The Famous Five become candidates for a book burning as EU sheilas run amok

Yep – this could finish up on the EU book-ban list. .

If Alf were a Pom, he would be an ardent campaigner for Britain’s withdrawal from that sad-sack shambles known as the European Union.

His campaigning would be given a huge lift by a just-published report.

This report is obviously the disgraceful product of an over-dose of European political correctness and female hormones.

It also demonstrates a shameful readiness to sanction censorship.

But what would be censored?

Pornography and depravity?

Nah.

How English is setting an example for French farmers

It’s pay-back time for our Bill English. Pay-back time for French farmers, too.

The farmers are doing it under orders.

With our Bill – splendid bloke – it’s voluntary.

His attitude goes a long way to demonstrating the intrinsic superiority of English over the French when it comes to morality and exemplary behaviour. Something to do with the genes.

Two Radio NZ reports paint the contrast.

Keep politicians out of the chocolate purity fuss

Aaaagh. Greenie Sue Kedgley has waded in on the chocolate issue. Next bloody thing you know, there will be moves in Parliament to define chocolate in a way that rules out palm oil as a substitute for cocoa butter and there will be demands for all sorts of food labelling requirements.

The European Union spent 25 years doing something like that before allowing the sale of “chocolate” without cocoa butter.

There are environmental issues too.

The threat of politicisation is raised by news that –

Export subsidies – they are the American way

It probably lowered Lachlan McKenzie’s blood pressure a tad, and Kiwis up and down the country will shout their approval. But it seems unlikely to accomplish much else.

“It” is the media statement issued today in which McKenzie described President Obama’s Dairy Export Incentive Program (DEIP) as “un-American”.

Abrasive stuff. But will Obama be sufficiently stung into backtracking?

Nah.

McKenzie went on to say the programme is designed to target major New Zealand markets “and is being driven by envy that sees uneconomic American farmers being propped up by struggling US taxpayers.”

Back home to good news

It’s great to be home after a week in the capital and to catch up with my rural newspapers.

First, a stiff drink, then a good read as an antidote to Wellington’s wailing and hand-wringing about our economic prospects.

First up was the splendid Farmers Weekly, where Alf was cheered by the front-page lead story by Andrea Fox –