Wednesday, Oct 9, 2019 Since Sept 27, 1879 Retail $2 Home delivered from $1.35 THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY www.guardianonline.co.nz History in the making Sixty-five FULL STORY P24 years strong PHOTO HEATHER MACKENZIE 061019-HM-0078 P2 Meth prices take a huge hit BY SUSAN SANDYS seizures at New Zealand’s borders, in- into rural and South Island regions. [email protected] dicating the power of the market is At the same time lower prices report- Methamphetamine prices have dropped swamping drug enforcement. ed in some North Island regions was to record lows in Mid Canterbury as sup- Researcher Chris Wilkins said the price consistent with their proximity to inter- ply into the South Island increases. had been declining in the South Island national smuggling routes, such as air- The median price for a gram of meth in particular, a result which reflected the ports, seaports and isolated coastlines, is down from almost $600 in the 2017-18 expansion of the market from the North as well as the concentration of domestic period to $500 in 2018-19. Island to the South Island. methamphetamine manufacture. The results, for the wider Canterbury The research was conducted by ask- The price of illegal drugs was an im- Who shot region, are from the latest bulletin of ing drug users themselves what the cur- portant determinant of who used them, Massey University’s New Zealand Drug rent price of the drugs were, and overall the level of consumption, and the relat- Trends Survey. 10,966 people completed the survey. ed individual and social harm. Oscar? Nationwide the price is down from Researchers found the declining pric- $538 in 2017-18 to $500 in 2018-19, and es in the South Island were consistent P2 compares to $1000 in the early 2000s. with official reports from police of gangs CONTINUED P3 The decline comes despite massive expanding methamphetamine selling Ph 03 307 7900 Retirement at its fi nest to subscribe! Independent and Spectacular location assisted living options Relaxed lifestyle Caring and experienced staff Phone 307 6140 37 carters terrace tinwald, ashburton 7700 RETIREMENT VILLAGE www.terraceview.co.nz Affordable luxury News 2 Ashburton Guardian Wednesday, October 9, 2019 www.guardianonline.co.nz Teamwork key to successful marriage BY SUSAN SANDYS [email protected] Romance was in the air when David and Pat Waller met in 1952. Today aged 86 and 87 respectively, the Ashburton couple reminisce about that evening when they went to a dance at the town’s Radiant Hall with friends, and ended up waltzing the night away. Whether it was love at first sight, Da- vid is not sure. “But we did get attached to one an- other, and today she’s still there,” he said. Dancing ended up being something they did together throughout their life, following being married at St Stephen’s Anglican Church in Ashburton on Oc- tober 9, 1954. Today as they celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary, they can look back on a happy marriage. They have two daughters, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. David said “meeting halfway” was behind the successful relationship, while Pat said it was “working togeth- e r”. “You can’t have it all one way, so you just work together, just a bit of team- work,” David added. Pat and David Waller. PHOTO SUSAN SANDYS 081019-SS-0302 Slug gun shooting inquiry continues The SPCA says X-rays confirmed “Our investigation showed that had been investigated across two slug gun pellets are in a pet there was only one cat that was the country in the past 12 months. cat that is the centre of an inves- shot, named Oscar,” a spokesper- If an investigation gathers tigation they are conducting in son said. enough evidence to prove a par- Ashburton. “X-rays showed two slug gun ticular person is shooting cats, Oscar the cat, who belongs pellets. One appeared to be an the SPCA can lay a charge of ill to Hampstead woman Annette older wound, this had healed. Al- treatment, under the Animal Wel- Whyte, returned home just over a though the pellet was still imbed- fare Act. week ago with an air rifle wound. ded in his skin, they were able to “We ask anyone who witnessed She said he had also been shot remove it using local anaesthetic. this latest incident, who has fur- last year. “The other pellet is in his ab- ther information about it, or an- An SPCA investigation into the domen and Oscar is being mon- yone in the surrounding area recent shooting is continuing and itored to see how his body reacts. whose cat has been injured in a an inspector will do a flyer drop So far, Oscar is doing well.” similar way to please call SPCA in the area looking for more infor- The SPCA said there had been and lodge an animal welfare com- mation on the incident. several reported cat shootings plaint.” Left – An X-ray shows two slug gun pellets in Oscar the cat. 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Wilkins said addressing the is- sue was two-fold. As well as the need to look at border control, improvements were needed in treatment and prevention. It was important there was access to drug treatment and About 150 people attended the official opening of the Mid Canterbury Vintage Machinery Club’s new headquarters. health services in rural and iso- PHOTO HEATHER MACKENZIE 051019-HM-0083 lated areas, and that young peo- ple were engaged in activities such as culture, art and sport. Additionally, it was important families had good housing, em- ployment and were not affected Ideal spot for old machines by poverty. Ashburton Community Alco- BY LINDA CLARKE the showgrounds site had ulti- are now is ideal. We generate in- bers from all walks of life. It had hol and Drug Service (ACADS) [email protected] mately proved the ideal spot as come and it is paying its way. It is monthly meetings with a guest The Mid Canterbury Vintage Ma- the space was perfect for mem- also a high profile site and at the speaker and informal weekly CEO Chris Clark said meth use chinery Club officially opened its bers and could generate income A&P showgrounds we can have get-togethers. was on the increase, but alco- new headquarters at the week- through hiring the facilities to ag- displays at the annual show.” The club also organises annu- hol remained the largest drug of end with some special thanks for ribusinesses who used it to train The club will have several vin- al tractor treks and international concern in the community as it those who helped the project over tractor technicians. tage farm machines, including a trips. Planning is well under way was causing the most harm. its 35-year pipeline. He said the building was debt- combine harvester, in the grand for a trip to Victoria, Australia, in Mid Canterbury was fortunate The club now has meeting free thanks to local businesses, parade at this year’s show next June next year when 22 members it had the free outpatient service rooms and display space in a funding groups and the late Ar- month, where the theme is seeds and their partners will visit farms, of ACADS, funded by the Canter- large, new building at the Ash- thur Chisnall, who left a sizeable of Mid Canterbury. vintage collections and other bury District Health Board, Min- burton A&P Showgrounds after donation in his will to the club. The clubrooms was officially tourist destinations. istry of Health and community what members politely refer to as Lion Foundation, the Mid and declared open by Rangitata MP The club also organises an an- grants.