28/09/04

Large numbers of enthusiasts are ordinary people without titles or money who just love the tradition and spectacle of hunting.

As Sharon Griffiths pointed out in her article the same day, we had also noted that the vast number of injuries to the protestors just happened to be head wounds, but I guess to the likes of Mr Thompson as long as "they were put in their place" all was justified.

If the anti-hunt body really cared about the fox they would be as disturbed about the alternatives - shooting or poison - which I assure you are seldom quick and never kind

Harry Mead's heart-tugging poem no doubt appeals to the sentimental, but a fox in a hen hut is certainly not sentimental about its killings.

Will fishing be next? Of course not. We are told fish have no feelings and, after all, it is the ordinary man's hobby and they are entitled to their sport. And, as fish don't cry out, they obviously don't mind having torn mouths and being suffocated. - Shelagh Harnby, Stockton-on-Tees.

EUROPE

AMID the traumatic news of the continued violence in parts of the world, the voice of a Turkish MP was lost.

He stated that his country was seeking membership of the European Union, not only for financial advantages, but because of the significant peace initiatives of the union.

When asked about the human rights issues in Turkey, he pointed out the improvements that have been made and those that still need addressing.

He said that it will take time to complete the improvements but, as long as we keep the objective in mind, in five or more years' time the objectives will have been achieved.

This echoes the words of the EU founders and we must remain outward looking and help other countries to set the same goals and to achieve them. - Bill Morehead, Darlington.

REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

THE poll of business leaders about the regional assembly is a wearingly disappointing viewpoint.

The need for an assembly to have input into the commercial life of the region is obvious.

The present Regional Assembly has business leaders represented as well as health, voluntary and trade union sectors. It is to the good of everyone in business in the North-East to have a real say in the running of OneNorth East, in the places where roads and railways will be built and in the skill base needed to provide labour for the industry of the 21st century.

It is the role of business to encourage the growth of new companies and to help in attracting new work into the area. If there is a distrust of politicians by business, the way to resolve this is not by bad mouthing genuine attempts to make the region stronger and more democratically accountable, but to participate in this assembly where the proportional voting system could guarantee seats for business interests.

The business community has been wrongly portrayed by some of the No campaign as being self interested and insular. The real experience of politicians like myself is that where there is a meeting of minds and will between the political world and that of business only good comes from it.

The success of Nissan is a clear example. Who will speak for the North-East when the aircraft carrier contract is being negotiated?

There is a place for commerce at the heart of the region and when the region says Yes I hope that our great business people will come forward to serve with the others from the heart of the region.

The sneerers ought not to win this battle, let positive people do the work required. - Coun Colin Anderson, Sunderland.

IF ever there was a reason for voting No to a regional assembly it is the recent case of the Wear Valley councillor who resides in the Dominican Republic, but who continues to pick up his allowance.

The same people who run things locally now will no doubt put their names forward for the assembly. Once they are elected, as many will be, they will vote themselves a hefty increase in their allowances with little or no thought for the poor tax payer.

There will be, as now, little or no policing of the claims they make or the amount of such payments. What was once a service to the public has, I am afraid, become a massive self rewarding gravy train. - D Colton, Yarm.

THE Government has made misleading statements in its 'Have Your Say' delivered to every household in the North-East prior to the referendum on a regional assembly.

In particular, it says that there will be around 25 elected members - "they would be elected as in Scotland, Wales and London, by a system of proportional representation to help prevent domination by a single party and to help ensure a balance of opinion".

Sounds fine, but an examination of the actual Bill shows that the picture is very different. There will in fact be 'constituency members' and 'regional members' and all the constituency members will be elected on the 'first past the post' system, by simple majority. 'The constituency members will make up the majority'. In other words the same old party domination will be very evident.

If any independent does try to stand for election, he or she is going to have an uphill struggle unless he or she is very wealthy. How, for example, could an individual canvas or leaflet 1.9 million voters and have any hope of being elected as a regional representative under PR?

So much for the Government's 'information' campaign. - Mrs D Thompson, North-East 'No' Campaign, Burnhope.

TERRORISM

IT is impossible to imagine the state of mind any hostage will be in, waiting in line to have their lives taken from them by mad men, and my heart goes out to them and their loved ones.

I read in the newspapers and see on TV that our country will not at any price do a deal with terrorists.

But the latest statement came just after Tony Blair had left to a meeting at Leeds Castle where he had been talking deals with the IRA who have been bombing and killing people in the UK for decades.

Am I missing something here. When is a terrorist not a terrorist? Also bear in mind that Tony Blair's leader George Bush is from a country that has poured money into the IRA. - Peter Brown, Trimdon Village.