Letters

THE Northern Echo, vets and the RSPCA are giving good service in promoting pet care to encourage children to be kind to animals.

However, kind children, on leaving school, then training for certain jobs and careers (eg intensive farming, breeding of commercial animals for research or food, or in laboratories or abattoirs), will need to be very strong-minded to retain their "kindness" principles, as in such employment, kindness is not an asset - and is even scoffed at by some workers in those fields.

Recent reports (Echo, Aug 5) and many others from many sources say even more lab animals tests are needed (ten million more for some chemical testing which has already been endlessly done). More and more animal tests for genetic engineering, cloning, BSE, smoking, slimming, drinking to drug-taking, self-inflicted illnesses and more and more animals suffering.

Perhaps along with teaching kindness and respect for God's non-human creation, we should also teach respect for our own health, minds and bodies - and less cruelty to other species. We might even then become healthier, and in less need of expensive drugs and medical treatments.

The drug companies and animal breeders wouldn't be happy at losing their big profits though. - EM Johnson, Crook.

LOTTERY

THE National Lottery is using too many sets of balls.

There should only be two sets of balls, one set for the draw and another set standing by in case the first set breaks down. - D Crane, Middlesbrough.

TRAFFIC POLLUTION

IT has been difficult at times to imagine what our natural environment has done to deserve the Labour Government, and its John Prescott in particular.

Despite the sterling efforts of groups like Friends of the Earth, the Blair administration has done nothing at all to cut traffic in this insanely polluted country.

At a time of dire crisis on our motorways, it has appeared totally obsessed with its relationship with the powerful roads lobby, that unholy alliance of road builders, lorry fleets and car manufacturers.

Their naked self-interest causes up to 24,000 premature deaths each year and makes life a living hell for many asthma sufferers.

Historians of the future will look back at the 21st Century as a puzzling period when the citizens of an already overcrowded land expanded their populations and increased their traffic levels. And all at the cost of vital wildlife habitats, clean pollution-free air and young children's safety. - Andrew Lightfoot, Bridlington.

CABINET GOVERNMENT

THE new cabinet style of local government for Darlington means that the ruling party will be meeting in private.

According to Darlington Council Labour Leader John Williams "it would compromise the integrity and quality of the decision making process" to do other than meet in private (Echo, July 5).

The strength of local government in this country is because until recently it has been accountable to the local electorate. Holding decision-making meetings in private is just one example of the erosion of democracy that is being sliced away piece by piece.

The erosion of power from local authorities to Westminster and indeed from Westminster to Brussels is a worrying trend which will inevitably result in rule by unaccountable bureaucrats.

Quangos have been introduced over the years that denude councils of their decision-making powers. There are quangos for the environment, transport, planning, further education and the arts, and of course let us not forget OneNorthEast (a regional development authority) the biggest quango in the North-East and controlled by government appointees.

The saddest aspect of all this is the way that local people are losing their say in who governs for them at the town hall. I for one deplore this erosion of democracy. - Bill Brown, Regional Chairman, UK Independence Party.

FOUR ALLS

WITH reference to Mike Amos's Eating Owt article (Echo, Aug 21) I must attempt to reddress the very serious injustice he has inflicted on the Four Alls, Ovington, by his supercilious and wildly inaccurate comments.

I am the one he referred to as a chap drinking brandy on a tab. Wrong. Brandy, yes, but tab no. There is not and never has been any tab kept. I pay for my drinks on leaving, as do all the customers.

He alleges that the Four Alls is inhospitable. Wrong. The hospitality is second to none and we locals make a conscious effort to have a cheery word for visitors. Can Mr Amos not see that it is because of his generally sarcastic comments in his column that he is not welcome at some pubs?

We are very fortunate in Teesdale to have a number of excellent eating places and the Four Alls is up there with the best of them - as most who have eaten there will gladly testify. - Allen Bird, Richmond.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACT

THE new legislation concerning bullying under the Human Rights Act which comes into force in October (Echo, Aug 9) is going to be yet another headache for our hard-pressed teachers and headteachers in particular.

David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers is right when he demands much clearer guidance for schools on the matter.

All too often appeals mean that disruptive pupils are allowed back into mainstream schooling, only to cause more problems. When the head and governors try to deal with the matter, it seems the way is now cleared for them to be sued for millions of pounds, either by the bully or the bullied.

It could be a no win situation. No wonder so many schools are struggling to find staff and to give a decent education to the children who want to learn. - EA Moralee, Billingham.