The article ('Bus trial postponed, could be shortened', Herald 25/5) also told us the council had an 18-month contract with Keolis Downer to run the trial at a cost of $519,000.

On Tuesday, the Herald reported that trials had begun along Wharf Road between Nobbys beach and Customs House ('Driverless bus starts carrying passengers', Herald 7/7).

Deputy lord mayor Declan Clausen was one of the first to travel on the bus and he said it was really exciting, particularly at the roundabouts, how the bus did really well to navigate.

What he obviously did not consider was the amount of normal vehicles the bus can stop and hold up as it travels at a snail's pace in order to negotiate each roundabout and pedestrian crossing.

A day later the Rail, Tram and Bus union stated the autonomous bus trial is fiscally ludicrous and fails to create jobs ('Bus union slams shiny toy', Herald 8/7). I suggest the union has little to worry about.

If they care to visit the site they will see the number of staff on duty to run this "shiny toy".

There is the chaperone who sits on the bus to make sure it does not hit anything, a supervisor from Keolis Downer to oversee the operation, and an information officer at each bus stop.

That makes a total of four staff to operate the driverless bus. One would have to say the shuttle is a droll, amusing oddity to say the least.

IN October 2017 the Herald reported the installation of 300 "smart poles" in Newcastle's CBD ('Newcastle smart poles won't race into action for Supercars weekend', Herald 22/10/17), each with capabilities beyond mere street lighting, supposedly including audio speakers, high-speed public Wi-Fi, weather and traffic information, pollution measurement, and cameras for real-time traffic analysis.

Three years later, ratepayers are entitled to ask how many of these features have come to fruition, what is the level of community Wi-Fi usage, and what costs have been incurred replacing existing lighting systems which were already working satisfactorily? Or is this project another expensive glamour project, like Springfield's monorail, or our own autonomous vehicle ('Bus union slams 'shiny toy', Herald 8/7)?

I WAS not surprised to see objections to Peter Gogarty's opinion piece calling on "privileged white males" to "acknowledge our complicity in the shame of our contemporaries" ('White men: it is time to own it and act on it', Herald 4/7).

One correspondent (Letters, 8/7) was offended that Mr Gogarty seemed to describe all white men as wife beaters, a not unreasonable interpretation when confronted with Mr Gogarty's assertion that "we are the ones who beat our partners, we are the ones who kill our partners..."

But I am certain that Mr Gogarty's intention was not to label all white men as wife beaters or child abusers, but to point out that it is white men holding positions of privilege who are among those who beat their wives, abuse children, harass women.

Peter Dolan (Short Takes, 8/7) correctly draws attention to the high level of domestic violence within Aboriginal communities (and we could extend that to all communities and skin colours - domestic violence is not limited to us privileged whites), but with few exceptions, we could hardly refer to our Aboriginal countrymen as "privileged".

I read the opinion piece - written by a self-confessed privileged white male - as a call to arms for the dominant stratum of society to be active in confronting and countering these crimes and inequities.

I FEAR that the recent reporting of assaults on police is in many cases looked upon by the perpetrators and/or prospective perpetrators with a sense of achievement, such is their mentality.

I would suggest that such assaults be not reported on in the first instance, thereby denying these people their so-called moment of glory. Rather, I think that we should wait until after they have been convicted and then reported on in the terms of their penalty.

If the only public reference was a headline about the sentences, it might then have a dampening effect on their ambitions.

Needless to say, it would also require the participation of the judiciary, as I think most people agree that the penalties being handed down are not a sufficient deterrent.

I believe this approach should also be expanded to include all emergency service personnel - firemen, nurses, paramedics, etc - as these people are only doing their jobs and in many cases the assaults are committed by the very person they are there to help. I just don't get it.

WITH regard to the Wickham School of Arts building at Wickham (Short Takes, 6/7): now that Newcastle's heritage is starting to be respected I suggest those concerned about a threat of its demolition write to the Heritage Department NSW to request their support.

I contacted the Heritage Department regarding the importance of retaining the Civic railway station, which is an important part of the Art Deco civic precinct.

The Heritage Department officer who researched the heritage of the station advised me that it was part of the railway heritage listing and must be retained.

Let's hope the Wickham School of Arts building will be restored to its original beauty.

PETER Sansom (Letters, 4/7) was correct in saying "preparing for war means more than buying weapons". The past and present Australian governments appear to have not learnt the hard lessons of World War II.

The real basis for defence has been ignored as essential manufacturing has diminished, we have inadequate fuel stocks and our railways are antiquated.

As an example, the coastal railway from Newcastle to the north of Queensland is still generally a single track with an outmoded track gauge change after Brisbane.

We rely on most military supplies and everyday requisites imported from overseas, transported by foreign shipping lines as our merchant fleet has disappeared.

Any determined enemy force would soon deny supplies arriving in our ports. The hard truth is that Australia cannot be defended with its small population, vast coastline and miniscule defence capability.

Perhaps our immense land size is our best defence, and buying a few missiles off the US can't offset the basic problems we face here. If the Prime Minister is finally serious about our defence, the work begins at home.

Email letters@newcastleherald.com.au or send a text message to 0427 154 176 (include name, suburb). Letters should be fewer than 200 words and Short Takes fewer than 50 words. Correspondence may be edited and reproduced in any form.

ONCE again another car/truck accident has happened at the Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest turn-off ('Questions over blind spot at crash scene', Newcastle Herald 8/7). The correct flyover turn-off was never built.

REJECTING my assertion that the flu is more damaging than COVID-19 (Short Takes, 6/7), John Ure (Letters, 9/7) makes some excellent points.

Detailing the economic devastation caused by the heavy-handed government response, Mr Ure counters that the total impact associated with COVID-19 will outpace that of the flu. I'm now inclined to agree.

When we account for the government-induced shutdowns that have or will lead to massive unemployment, bankruptcy, homelessness, substance abuse, domestic violence, educational disadvantage, people failing to seek medical treatment for fear of visiting hospitals ('Patients urged to seek help if sick', Herald 9/7) and other ills, I believe the human suffering will eclipse that of influenza.

Unfortunately it will also eclipse that directly caused by COVID-19.

When the cure is worse than the disease, you have chosen the wrong cure.

THIS week I visited the Maitland Levee and was quite surprised at how lovely it has been developed. The toilets were modern, clean and open.

The access to the riverbank was easy and flowed seamlessly from the shops and cafes to a pleasant area where one can relax and enjoy the scenery. Sure, there were shops closed, but many were open and appeared to be doing OK in these troubled times.

Many of the old heritage buildings have been retained and blend seamlessly with anything new. Congratulations Maitland council for a job well done.

OUR esteemed premier seems quick to point the finger of blame as to what she sees as failures by other state premiers during this current crisis, but very slow to accept blame for her blunders. It is a two way street.

PAULINE Hanson has never struck me as being too bright. Her latest comments confirm this.

No doubt the residents in housing commission accommodation have their share of social undesirables, but there are responsible people too who do not deserve the criticism of Hanson.

Perhaps she has failed to notice that the problems she mentioned are to be found in all levels of society including politicians.

I advise her to look closer at home before condemning the socially disadvantaged.

BRAVO, Joanne Debono (Letters, 8/7) for sticking up for us ageing white men who, according to Peter Gogarty ('White men: it is time to own it and act on it', Opinion 4/7) are the cause of many of society's ills. My mates and I certainly don't fit any of his troublemaking categories. Most baby boomers living a comfortable retirement are able to do so because we heeded our parents' advice to work hard, save and don't live beyond your means. It's a pity a lot of young ones today weren't taught these values and prefer an attitude of entitlement.