Sir, - I wonder how many people would agree with me that the insatiable appetite for raising taxes by central and local governments, police authorities, and the ever-increasing changes made by utility companies and the like are, without doubt, the mother and father of all inflation.

We are now reading of the possibility of another massive increase in rates next year. Do the people who purport to be custodians of our money really know what they are doing?

Would they spend so freely if the money was their own? Do they understand the consequences are simply that the man (or woman) in the street cannot absorb the annual exorbitant increases and will eventually demand more money to pay them, and if it is not forthcoming he (or she) will strike and so the wheels of perpetual inflation will gather speed again, travelling the road to ruin.

A long time ago Winston Churchill said: "A nation cannot tax itself into wealth" The wisdom of that statement remains true today, and perhaps if those words had been heeded, we in this country might still have been competitive in the world.

ERIC HORNER

Fountains Place,

Northallerton.

Blank cheque

Sir, - I refer to your front page report and leading article on policing costs (D&S Nov 21).

I do not doubt that Della Cannings can make out a 100pc water-tight case for expenditure to produce a 100pc improvement in the provision of police services throughout North Yorkshire. I do not doubt that many members of the general public could do the same.

But council tax is income tax, and some of us are not on high salaried incomes. The money is no longer there to go on funding these continual rises. And I object to my home being perpetually treated as if it were a blank cheque.

PETER ADDINALL

Myrtle Grove,

Carperby,

Leyburn.

Picture this

Sir, - Might I suggest that just some of this year's 76pc funding increase to North Yorkshire Police be spent on providing you with a photograph of a policeman. On receipt you should then publish same in your newspaper so that when they inevitably are awarded another 54pc early next year we in Richmond might recognise one - if we are lucky enough to see one.

MICHAEL J SHARPE

Sleegill,

Richmond.

Votes precedent

Sir, - You report that Rudby Parish Council seeks approval from residents for a £200,000 loan for the refurbishment of the village hall and that non-return of the form will be taken as indicating support.

I am concerned that the Government may use this tactic in counting votes at the next election.

VIC SMITH

Hutton Rudby.

Bridge issues

Sir, - I do wish the D&S would concentrate on the issues of this proposal to place a suspension bridge over the Tees and avoid dragging personalities of this campaign into the Press.

There are a number of local individuals working very hard to stop this revised scheme which will have a devastating effect on the environment of Barnard Castle.

I never said I was co-ordinating this campaign and I am sure the CPRE can look after its own interests.

There is one aspect to this proposal I find most disturbing and that is the support given to the project by the district council, which is the planning authority for Teesdale, without any public consultation.

There is already one district councillor and one council official on the board of Teesdale Marketing Limited (TML) who are promoting the scheme. However, it would appear that no officials in the district council's planning department have been consulted for their views on the project.

In the light of the £11,000 worth of ratepayers' money given to Teesdale Marketing by the district council, it would appear that the council may have put the cart before the horse.

In the meantime, the public remain completely in the dark while TML continue to plunder the public purse to the tune of £50,000.

ROBIN RACKHAM

Lartington Hall,

Lartington,

Barnard Castle.

Editor's note: The Northern Echo had reported that Mr Rackham was acting as co-ordinator - a point he did not deny when speaking to our reporter.

Amnesty action

Sir, - I am writing to draw attention to the current Amnesty International campaign for the right to work in Palestine.

The 300 checkpoints, blockades, the "wall" dividing people from their homes and work, need for permits, curfews and prohibition on the use of all major roads plus minor roads in the proximity of the illegal Israeli settlements create untold hardship.

Restrictions on travel and transport of goods (even on accessible roads, lorries etc. have to be completely unloaded at a checkpoint and then loaded again on the other side) has led to a massive closing down of work places or severe restrictions on operating times.

Largely because of this, 60pc of the population of the occupied territories now have incomes below the official UN breadline of $2 a day. They have survived only through the help of the Red Cross and other charities.

A typical case is that of Abd Jobe who owns a factory producing metal objects. Before the crackdown, the factory operated two shifts and employed up to 25 men each day. By October 2002, the factory was employing just four men with one shift a day.

When curfews are imposed, the factory cannot operate at all. The restrictions have had a terrible effect, particularly on the old and sick and anyone needing medical treatment.

One of the worst effects, however, has undoubtedly been the huge increase in unemployment and reduction in the hours it is possible to work by those with a job. We would like to ask that if you share our concern you write to the Prime Minister or Foreign Secretary or your local MP or MEPs.

JOHN SEVERS

Durham Amnesty Action Group campaign co-ordinator

Hastings Avenue,

Durham City.