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Dateline: 28 April 2000 Early Edition Read The Previous Edition A permanent link to this page can be found here
Editorial
I have yet to receive any response -- but that's understandable, going by the
dearth of republics that have ceded from the nation it's clearly something
they're not called on often to provide and doubtless they'll have to scratch
around in their archives.
In submitting my request for information I cited that a succession of governments
that have proven themselves incapable or unwilling to allow NZers to take
advantage of the new knowledge-based economy meant I had no option but to
form a republic in order to ensure that such opportunities are not lost.
It is indeed sad when governments are so pitiful in their handling of an issue
that a citizen's only option is to form their own damned country -- right!
I'll keep you informed as to the responses and the progress made in this issue.
Cookie The Clown Still Around
Fear not! Good old Mike Masters is touting his latest "Internet Your Business"
seminar on the radio these days.
How credible is Mike?
Well, on his radio commercial he's telling anyone who'll listen that
there are over 200 million customers out there on the Web just waiting
to do business with you. Oh my gawd -- I thought this kind of deceitful
eyewash had long since died.
Sigh!
It's rather telling to note that he has the sponsorship of Telecom and some
other corporate dullards behind him this time and that he's holding the
event at the Albany campus of Massey University.
Telecom Launches VC Fund
One of the cornerstone investors in this fund is none other than Telecom, who
have chucked $40 million into the hat to get things going.
Good on them -- but I must wonder why the launch was held in Wellington which,
although it's the centre of political power and lobbying, is hardly the
hub of NZ's hi-tech development community.
Certainly it wasn't an issue of cost -- after all they weren't prepared to
offer any kind of travel concessions for the media -- yet I recall being
flown all over Auckland (along with a score of other media-people) in a DC3
for almost an hour when XTRA did something as trivial as announce a reduction
in their hourly access rate.
I would have thought that Auckland -- or even Christchurch would have been a
far more fitting venue -- but then again, one must decide whether one's agenda
is really to fund hi-tech startups -- or perhaps simply to try and impress a
small group of hot-air generators in Parliament who are about to scrutinise
your business practices with a fine-toothed comb eh?
It will be exceedingly interesting to examine in fine detail, the target,
scope and nature of the investments that this fund makes. How much of Telecom's
contribution will be by way of cash and how much by way of services?
Will those who receive funding be free to choose Clear as their telecommunications
provider I wonder?
And how will Anderton rationalise the fact that "big bad Telecom" -- the
corporate giant that he loves to hate -- has already put its money where its
mouth is while his "Ministry of Economic Development" is still engaging in
the earliest stages of rhetoric over its own $100m new economy job creation fund?
Anyone else care to declare their own republic?
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Aardvark Daily is a publication of, and is copyright to, Bruce Simpson, all rights reserved
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