So, the rumours continue that we will have a cashless society within three years. How can this be a good thing? Whoever is behind this so-called advance in civilisation is depriving people of a choice.

I use cash all the time. If I chose to use a credit card the vendor would have to pay a transaction fee and I would be depriving them of a portion of their profit.

Use a card for a 90 cent purchase? Ridiculous! And what happens to 'admission by gold coin donation” or those charities that ask for donations on the street? Or commissioning a friend or a child to buy a few items for you – you are certainly not going to give them your card to use.

Not all people have computers or cell phones for online banking. Indeed not all people have adequate reception at their homes (or wherever else they may be) to allow them to use these things. And neither bank cards nor on-line banking are without risk.

Saying we do not need cash is like saying we don't need road signs anymore because cars now have GPS capabilities.

Or we don't need cameras anymore because everyone has a cell phone.

Or we don't need landlines anymore because everyone has cell phones.

Yeah, right.

I say, leave cash alone!

Vic Brazier, Tauriko