By: Larry Williams | Monday, October 01, 2012

ON CRIME

The number of crimes recorded in the past year is the lowest in more than two decades.

Police figures show recorded offences dropped 5.2-percent -when New Zealand's population increase is taken into account, police say it actually results in a 5.9-percent decrease - the lowest since the 1988/89 year.

Deputy Police Commissioner Viv Rickard says the figure indicates that New Zealand is becoming a safer place to live.

These are reported crimes and the reduction is mainly at the low end of the spectrum. The less serious offences reduced the most.

Sure there is a reduction in homicides and burglaries but drug offending has increased.

I do not detect NZ is becoming a safer place to live at all.

ON ALAN JONES

Pressure's mounting on Sydney radio host Alan Jones to be pulled from the airwaves over his comments about the death of Julia Gillard's father..

The broadcaster said John Gillard died of shame because of his daughter's lies.

There are petitions calling for Jones to be sacked.

The Jones comments were dopey but I think you have to be careful about the outrage that has followed.

What you find with these petitions is that its an anti Jones lobby who see the comments as an opportunity get rid of Jones. They hate Jones. Probably always have. So this is just an opportunity.

For a smart man this was a very dumb comment even if it was apparently a joke he had heard and he didn't think he was being recorded.

ON PETERS

Winston Peters  thinks Mr Dotcom should never have been allowed into the country.

"He bought his way in just because he was someone with money. It's revolting, and it's made us look like a joke. I know a lot of people out there think that he's a hero but here's another bit - if you were a writer or a songwriter, and he stole your property, would you think him such a Robin Hood now?"

Peters is on the money.

What is remarkable about this fiasco is the lack of attention given to Dotcoms criminal history. How he was ever granted residency despite his money. And the somewhat gullibility of those who think he's innocent on the basis that he says he is.

I thinks it's wise to wait for the courts to decide that one.

What we have seen is certain sections of the media and opposition parties batting for their hero in complete disregard of the other side of the story.

ON SPORT

The All Blacks clicked and the Pumas got pummelled.

The Pumas were expected to push the All Blacks at home. They did for the first quarter but as the All Blacks often do, they created opportunities from out of nowhere and the floodgates opened.

It was a very good performance and the All Blacks win the inaugural Rugby Championship.

Not so for the Wallabies who we're been up badly by the Boks.

The Wallabies will now go to Argentina and face the very real possibility of being beaten up again.

Robbie Deans days are just about over I suspect.

The Black Caps at the T20 World Cup.

They not out of it. Beaten by England things have to go seriously their way for them to get to the semis.

The Black Caps are not a bad team at this T20 game.

But they just can't do the right things at the vital time. They seem to falter when the pressure comes on. It's margin of error stuff but they just can't nail it when it really matters.

Europe retains Ryder Cup at Medinah in Chicago.

They beat the US 14 1/2 to 13 1/2.

The US had it in the bag going into today at 10-6 up. Never before has a team won from behind by 4 games going into the singles on the final day. Sport can be a cruel thing sometimes. The US dumped it big time. It was an incredible comeback by Europe.

It would be easy to say that the US collapsed but that was not the case. It could have gone either way.

The Ryder Cup is great sporting theatre. The pressure is intense. It's team competition at its finest. Great fun to watch.