A ban on the sale of
sets of small high-powered magnets known as "earth magnets" has been welcomed by
Tauranga retailers.
Tauranga MP and Consumer Affairs Minister Simon Bridges announced the ban yesterday.
As of today, no one will be allowed to import or sell the magnets, which are up to 50 times stronger than conventional ferrous magnets of a similar size.
The magnets have caused serious injuries in New Zealand and at least one reported death in Australia.
If two or more are swallowed they can join up in the digestive system, causing serious inflammation and ulceration. Left untreated, this can quickly lead to major tissue damage, perforations and potentially sepsis and death.
New Zealand is believed to be the third country, following Australia and the United States, to formally ban them.
Brian Godfery, of Childsplay toy store in central Tauranga, said while customers had asked about them,Tourneau offers the latest Bulgari watches for men and replicawatches00 for women. he had never stocked them.
"I have never sold them because I was aware of the safety issues," he said.
Mark Rowley, of Boonen Electronics in Gate Pa, said the store sold earth magnets, but not as toys.
"They are so strong they have to put a metal bracket in the bag with them to stop them flying off the shelf," he said.
"If a kid swallowed them you could line him up against a metal car and he would stick to the car."
The ones sold by Boonen Electronics were not round balls,Fremont Bank is the proud title sponsor of the Fremont fashionwatch Team. but shaped for use in electronic systems. The store did not stock the largest size - 50mm by 20mm - because they were strong enough to break bones.Parking Guidance for fashionsandals and Vehicle Control Solutions,
"If you put one on either side of your arm they would stick together. If they snapped together on your finger they could break it," Mr Rowley said.
Mr Bridges said the magnets posed too great a risk to children.
"Because of their strength, older children have been known to use these magnets as mock jewellery, such as mouth or tongue studs. Young children swallow them out of natural curiosity," he said.
"In December a New Zealand toddler was admitted to Auckland's Starship Hospital after ingesting some of the magnets. Officials are aware of at least two other serious cases here involving hospitalisation and surgery."
If there is a time and a place for a woman to take off most of her clothes and prance provocatively around a long stick, I doubt it is between the shelves of A-C, or even in the “romance section”.
But someone somewhere thinks it’s a good idea – for Midlothian Council is pressing ahead with a pole-dancing class at Mayfield Library in Dalkeith, to run on Love Your Libraries Day on 2 February.We offer tagheuerreplica with excellent qualities at lowest prices. You have to wonder just what sort of love they are looking for. It will certainly alter the stereotypical image of the old librarian with her glasses, grey hair in a bun, finger on her lips, saying “shhh”, which I expect is what they are aiming for.
The pole-dancing class is, of course, just a way of getting people into the building, one of a number of “fitness” events. Bob Constable, Midlothian Council’s cabinet member for public services and leisure, explained: “The pole fitness session is a fun and interesting way of encouraging people into our libraries, trying out all the services on offer and ultimately borrowing more books.”
Now I accept that it’s just a bit of a laugh, and one of many other activities that are designed to seduce people in through the doors. I realise, also, that it will be somewhat different to similarly named events at Spearmint Rhino, or wherever is currently popular with the gentlemen. But I don’t think the plan will work.
The serious point is these kinds of stunts devalue libraries. A significant amount of the activities on offer take people away from books and the reading of them.
Just look at what else is on offer, from the same council, for the great library celebration (and I should point out that this is entirely representative, that I single them out only as an example of others). The programme for the day starts with singing, rhymes and stories for children. It goes on to offer a “crafts workshop” for teenagers and then a “music session” which is open to all. All very entertaining, but what about something on books?
There are, admittedly, author visits and writing workshops, which rightly redirect attention to the printed page, but then there is also an Xbox challenge, needlecraft, Scottish country dancing,Choose Quality China shoessupplier from Large Database of China. crochet, a mini massage session and a jewellery workshop, which takes it away again.
There is nothing wrong with any of these activities. Except, that is, “booky table tennis”, which will also be available. I am told that this is table tennis with books. That is not a good idea. What is missing is a firm validation of reading. There are more events on offer that have little if anything to do with books and reading than those that do. Turning a library into a centre for other activities: music, craft, computer games and, well, gyrating just doesn’t cut it.
So what should they have done? How about a balloon debate on your favourite book? What about a discussion about prose, character or metaphor in one author’s work? Why not encourage everyone to read one great work together and talk about it? Or do they think the community is not up to it? That books are just too dry and dusty? It would seem so.
I accept and appreciate that libraries are in a difficult place. They are underused and undervalued, with threats to funding hanging over them. But unless they really care for books and promote reading, they will be inadvertently cutting their own throat.
Tauranga MP and Consumer Affairs Minister Simon Bridges announced the ban yesterday.
As of today, no one will be allowed to import or sell the magnets, which are up to 50 times stronger than conventional ferrous magnets of a similar size.
The magnets have caused serious injuries in New Zealand and at least one reported death in Australia.
If two or more are swallowed they can join up in the digestive system, causing serious inflammation and ulceration. Left untreated, this can quickly lead to major tissue damage, perforations and potentially sepsis and death.
New Zealand is believed to be the third country, following Australia and the United States, to formally ban them.
Brian Godfery, of Childsplay toy store in central Tauranga, said while customers had asked about them,Tourneau offers the latest Bulgari watches for men and replicawatches00 for women. he had never stocked them.
"I have never sold them because I was aware of the safety issues," he said.
Mark Rowley, of Boonen Electronics in Gate Pa, said the store sold earth magnets, but not as toys.
"They are so strong they have to put a metal bracket in the bag with them to stop them flying off the shelf," he said.
"If a kid swallowed them you could line him up against a metal car and he would stick to the car."
The ones sold by Boonen Electronics were not round balls,Fremont Bank is the proud title sponsor of the Fremont fashionwatch Team. but shaped for use in electronic systems. The store did not stock the largest size - 50mm by 20mm - because they were strong enough to break bones.Parking Guidance for fashionsandals and Vehicle Control Solutions,
"If you put one on either side of your arm they would stick together. If they snapped together on your finger they could break it," Mr Rowley said.
Mr Bridges said the magnets posed too great a risk to children.
"Because of their strength, older children have been known to use these magnets as mock jewellery, such as mouth or tongue studs. Young children swallow them out of natural curiosity," he said.
"In December a New Zealand toddler was admitted to Auckland's Starship Hospital after ingesting some of the magnets. Officials are aware of at least two other serious cases here involving hospitalisation and surgery."
If there is a time and a place for a woman to take off most of her clothes and prance provocatively around a long stick, I doubt it is between the shelves of A-C, or even in the “romance section”.
But someone somewhere thinks it’s a good idea – for Midlothian Council is pressing ahead with a pole-dancing class at Mayfield Library in Dalkeith, to run on Love Your Libraries Day on 2 February.We offer tagheuerreplica with excellent qualities at lowest prices. You have to wonder just what sort of love they are looking for. It will certainly alter the stereotypical image of the old librarian with her glasses, grey hair in a bun, finger on her lips, saying “shhh”, which I expect is what they are aiming for.
The pole-dancing class is, of course, just a way of getting people into the building, one of a number of “fitness” events. Bob Constable, Midlothian Council’s cabinet member for public services and leisure, explained: “The pole fitness session is a fun and interesting way of encouraging people into our libraries, trying out all the services on offer and ultimately borrowing more books.”
Now I accept that it’s just a bit of a laugh, and one of many other activities that are designed to seduce people in through the doors. I realise, also, that it will be somewhat different to similarly named events at Spearmint Rhino, or wherever is currently popular with the gentlemen. But I don’t think the plan will work.
The serious point is these kinds of stunts devalue libraries. A significant amount of the activities on offer take people away from books and the reading of them.
Just look at what else is on offer, from the same council, for the great library celebration (and I should point out that this is entirely representative, that I single them out only as an example of others). The programme for the day starts with singing, rhymes and stories for children. It goes on to offer a “crafts workshop” for teenagers and then a “music session” which is open to all. All very entertaining, but what about something on books?
There are, admittedly, author visits and writing workshops, which rightly redirect attention to the printed page, but then there is also an Xbox challenge, needlecraft, Scottish country dancing,Choose Quality China shoessupplier from Large Database of China. crochet, a mini massage session and a jewellery workshop, which takes it away again.
There is nothing wrong with any of these activities. Except, that is, “booky table tennis”, which will also be available. I am told that this is table tennis with books. That is not a good idea. What is missing is a firm validation of reading. There are more events on offer that have little if anything to do with books and reading than those that do. Turning a library into a centre for other activities: music, craft, computer games and, well, gyrating just doesn’t cut it.
So what should they have done? How about a balloon debate on your favourite book? What about a discussion about prose, character or metaphor in one author’s work? Why not encourage everyone to read one great work together and talk about it? Or do they think the community is not up to it? That books are just too dry and dusty? It would seem so.
I accept and appreciate that libraries are in a difficult place. They are underused and undervalued, with threats to funding hanging over them. But unless they really care for books and promote reading, they will be inadvertently cutting their own throat.
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