There will be fireworks down at the club if John Key really said we must brace to become a nanny state

Sad to say, there’s a hint The Boss might have  gone crackers.

He says a ban on fireworks appears to be coming closer…

But (according to the NZ Herald) he is reluctant for the Government to impose one immediately for fear of being accused of running a “nanny state”.

So we won’t be accused of running a nanny state just yet.

We will tai-ho a tad and be accused of running a nanny state some other time.

Alf admits to being a tad bemused.

It doesn’t much matter if it doesn’t happen now.

But conditioning us to become a nanny state next year, the year after or whenever raises Alf’s hackles.

And it’s bound to require he explain himself to his true-blue mates in the Eketahuna Club.

Parents who don’t normally treasure your kids, please pay attention: this weekend is for you

Oh, Gawd. Alf had been preparing to take refuge in the Eketahuna Club while Children’s Day was celebrated tomorrow.

But he had better get moving now and take refuge today.

He knew Children’s Day is officially marked on Sunday 3 March. Forewarned was forearmed.

But his colleague and good friend , Paula Bennett, has just advised him (here) the entire weekend will see communities get together across the country to celebrate children and positive parenting.

Hobson’s choice for cabbies – if their passengers don’t mug them, Steven Joyce will

Mugger be buggered...I'm here to collect your fine.

Cabbies have good cause to be pissed off with meddling law-makers.

Too often they are mugged by their passengers.

But all is not lost. Those who are really bothered by the prospect of being attacked and robbed could do something about it and install security cameras

Nanny State prefers compulsion.

Stuff reports today on a raft of measures developed by the New Zealand Transport Agency including – disgracefully – hefty penalties for non-compliance.

The agency has done this after the Cabinet agreed to make cameras in taxis compulsory in a bid to improve driver safety after a spate of attacks.

Brits opt for compulsory fat checks

Looks like the Nanny State in Britain is cranking up its assault on fatties.

Everyone aged between 40 and 74 will be called in to their GP for a ‘fat test’ and prescribed weight management and exercise if they are found to be overweight, under a new Government drive on obesity.

The checks will involve taking height and weight measurements and plotting body mass index .

The NHS Health Checks aim to identify an individual’s risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and kidney disease with a personal assessment and tailored advice.

Tararua’s $13m drinking problem

Gotta give it to Tararua Mayor Maureen Reynolds for optimism.

She says (according to the Manawatu Standard) it will be impossible to come up with the dosh needed to improve her district’s drinking water – a matter of more than $13 million – without help from the Government.

Doesn’t she know we are lopping public spending, or trying to, because of the widening budget deficit and Standard and Poors putting us on credit watch and all that fiscal stuff?

Lard laws take a battering

The nutrition Nazis just don’t get it.

The Government has not made pie-eating – or gluttony – compulsory for school children.

It has simply scrapped a daft regulation requiring the availability of nothing but “healthy” food options for sale in schools.

It regards these – and rightly so – as unnecessary and a bureaucratic burden.

The scrapping of the lard laws gives school boards of trustees the freedom to make their own decisions about what are appropriate foods and drinks.

It does not permit them to advocate, preach or champion the spawning of a nation of Billy Bunters.