The article quoting councillor Larry Baldock in The Weekend Sun of May 11, (page 3) is living proof that the saying 'Lies, dammed lies, and statistics,” is being used to back a weak argument by him for rejecting the 60/40 ‘no' vote by ratepayers in the non-binding referendum against the museum.

Larry claims that the result is not clear enough. He then plays around with statistics to suggest, after excluding some ‘no' voters, that the preferred site for the museum comes out to 55 per cent preference for Cliff Road compared to 46 per cent (101 per cent total) for Willow Street. Me thinks that Larry ‘speaks with a forked tongue'.

I would suggest the ‘no' voters who ticked a site box for the proposed museum location did so because they felt if they didn't then their form would be rejected. Add that possibility to his statistical analysis if he can.

Lastly, I would also suggest that eligible voters, who are legally responsible for council debt, do not vote because as Larry says 'We are not elected to only serve the wishes of the majority.” At last, well said Larry, so why bother voting in the first place. To quote Garfield – 'It doesn't matter”.

D Wilson, Mount Maunganui.