01/09/05

This is another example of a one-sided argument that ignores the plight of Chinese factory workers.

Some of the factories are owned by firms outside China and impose the same low pay, dormitory type existence on workers who send the majority of their pay back to families sometimes hundreds of miles away. The workers from rural areas where subsistence farming is the way of life are being taken advantage of.

There is no real attempt to address their plight. Meanwhile, clothing manufacture in Europe, where living wages are being paid, is being reduced.

There needs to be a situation where the internal problems of China are addressed instead of China exporting its problems elsewhere. The best way of dealing with these problems is through the European Union, rather than have individual countries having a variety of ideas that could bring them into conflict with each other. - Bill Morehead, Darlington.

HOSPITAL SUPER BUGS

I THINK the figures published today (Echo, Aug 26) concerning the 44,000 cases of clostridium difficile are a real disgrace, especially coupled with the big problem of MRSA contracted in our hospitals. Lack of basic hygiene and personal cleanliness is the only way these bacteria can become a problem. It really is not rocket science.

I am a retired vet and, in the 1970s, I first met as a client the last old-style matron of Darlington Memorial Hospital, a lady called Cassie Harker.

I was later privileged to know her as a friend and could only describe her as the Margaret Thatcher of the hospital. No nurse over whom she had authority, would ever be able to get away with slack ward cleanliness or lapses in personal hygiene.

Why on earth have we done away with such people? - Peter Hill, School Aycliffe, Darlington.

MEMORY LANE

HAS anybody got old pictures of Albert Hill, Darlington during 1950s?

I am from the North West, but used to go to Darlington once a year to Albert Hill to visit my grandmother. I remember the house I visited being either next to the railway line or a couple of houses from the line.

I also remember seeing children without shoes in cold weather (1955), which I was surprised about. I don't know if this was just children running out of the house being too lazy to put shoes on, or whether this was because of poverty and they had none to wear.

My mother spoke of great poverty during her childhood, and how difficult life was for everybody.

I remember a fish and chip shop across the road from the house, and a grocer\rquote s nearby, where we bought milk. The local RC church where money was thrown down onto the floor for collection and the pulpit seemed to be raised up high in the air; bingo at St Wilfred's or St Mary's, where we had to join a queue to get in, before the bingo halls were born.

The house was so very old, and a little scary for small children, with a black fireplace, where you could warm things inside ovens. It seemed so strange hearing the trains passing loudly by, and the smell of coal and smoke wafting into the house. The house was so damp that the sugar was in a block and had to be hit with a rolling pin to collect a spoonful for our tea. We had pease pudding, and enjoyed it.

I would love to see some photos of that area before it changed - as it must have. I haven\rquote t been back since I was very young, because my grandmother died and the reason to visit ceased. louise.gordon@baesystems.com - Louise Gordon, Preston.

BETTER ACCESS

I WAS very heartened to read that Anne Cowie, of Wear Valley Disability Access Forum, (Echo, Aug 25) is reminding blue badge holders of the new and even more generous concessions being allowed in Newgate Street in Bishop Auckland.

I was equally disheartened that there appeared to be no reminder of the responsibilities that go with these concessions and to inform holders that abuse of the regulations is not only illegal but does very little to engender goodwill from the rest of the travelling public.

Since the demise of traffic wardens in Bishop Auckland and the dearth of police in the town centre, especially during daylight hours, vehicle parking has become a free-for-all.

Whilst much public funding has been used to tidy up the town centre, traffic is still a problem to pedestrians who often have to walk in the road or take other evasive action to avoid someone who cannot or will not obey the laws regarding parking and the driving of vehicles in prohibited areas.

The unfortunate thing that I have noticed in my daily travels in the town centre is that many of the transgressors are those who hide behind their blue badges and, indeed, are often alarmingly ignorant of the conditions of the use of their badges and most verbally abusive when the error of their ways is brought to their attention. - David T Colling, Bishop Auckland.

GREAT SHOW

WHAT an exuberant production of 42nd Street at The Gala Theatre, Durham.

There's so much talent in the Dionysis Theatre - it would take up more column inches than is allowed. I would just say to the people in Durham and the surrounding area, go and see this show - you won't be disappointed.

It is crisply and professionally presented with great flair and enthusiasm. The sets are brilliant too, as are the costumes. What a wonderful, colourful spectacle was witnessed. - M A Ayres, Plymouth.

LONDON BOMBINGS

AFTER the London bombings we all ask the same question: why?

Was it avenging injustice, righteous anger or a deep-seated hatred for Western values or perhaps the indoctrination of Islamist religious distortions inculcated by their holy imams. Or was the bombers' real goal immortality, the desire to be seated alongside their legendary heroes, even if it involves the slaughter and maiming of innocent people.

The older generation of today's British Pakistanis came here like thousands of other economic immigrants, including myself, to escape hunger and poverty.

We were treated with equality and learned to adapt to the British way of life. Unfortunately, many immigrants refused to accept Britain as their future and continued to practice the languages, traditions and customs of their former country, insisting their sons and daughters do likewise.

As a result, integration was never allowed to develop, having been replaced with mistrust and nefarious claims solely to incite hostilities.

When Muslims claim unfair treatment I can understand why: almost 40 per cent of British Muslims leave school with no qualifications, 25 per cent of 16-24-year-olds are unemployed, nine per cent of the prison population are Muslims and the Christian West has slaughtered thousand of their fellow Muslims.

Christians and Muslims will both claim divine rights for their actions, regardless of how atrocious they may be. When will we ever learn? - Stephen Kielty, Middlesbrough.