SMACKING: ONCE again, we have the debate that smacking is wrong. We are yet again drowned out by the strident voices of those who firmly believe that all smacking stems from brutality.

Sharon Griffiths made the point quite plainly - abolition of smacking would not have saved poor Victoria Climbie.

It appears totally beyond the belief of the so-called experts that many parents find smacking effective in training children and the punishment offered is quick and finished with. It is not a prolonged brutal physical attack.

The latest cries of mental cruelty seem at odds with the mental cruelty inflicted on children by those who scream, shout, bribe, cajole, insinuate or threaten without actually managing to correct bad behaviour.

It seems totally beyond the capacity of the anti-smacking lobby that all good parents are absolutely against cruelty and abuse to children. Is it impossible for the anti-smackers to distinguish between loving correction and brutality?

Those in favour of smacking do not feel it an obligation to smack and many who feel that a smack is effective do not smack all their children all of the time.

Should the law change it is unlikely that bad parents will suddenly become good parents, and then what will the reformers take on?

They may just take a look at the real problem - that parents sometimes may need help, and that the continued condemnation of those who are trying to do the best for their children does not serve any useful purpose. - J West, Darlington.

IMMIGRATION

BRITAIN is being flooded with immigrants and the Government is allowing it to happen, as well as hiding it from the public.

The British public are getting wise to the Government and are beginning to realise this every day.

Our heritage, way of life, traditions and country are being sold and given away to people who don't belong here, have no right to be here and are here illegally.

What has the Government done about it? As usual nothing, allowing it to continue.

No wonder Brussels and the rest of Europe are rubbing their hands together and laughing at the same time. They are not thinking of Britain or caring about Britain in any way at all. - Christopher Joyce, Ferryhill.

REGIONAL GOVERNMENT

GIVEN we already have one, when mentioning the proposed regional assembly, should we not be preceding it with "elected".

You'll be happy to know you've been paying for it, the unelected version, for a few years now. How very democratic of our leaders.

So, in my district (Wear Valley), when discretionary services, like playgrounds, grass cutting and leisure services, are deemed not worthy of funding and are subsequently removed, the very same decision makers and leaders still see fit to fund an unelected regional assembly, without you even being aware of it.

Are these really the type of people we want running the region? - Jim Tague, Bishop Auckland Conservatives.

Shildon

I REFER to your article on vandalism in Shildon (Echo, Jul 8).

Recently, I went to Shildon to view the new museum, the opening of which we all eagerly await. I was absolutely disgusted by the vandalism that has occurred to the new fencing alongside the footpath leading to the museum and in the general area of the railway station.

Any visitor entering this area will be leaving Shildon with all the wrong opinions, no matter how impressive the displays in the museum.

As for the area of housing you mention in your article, I can only liken it to war-torn Beiruit, and the people of Shildon should be absolutely ashamed of this particular area.

There are obviously people in New Shildon doing their best to improve the area, but their efforts are being thwarted by people happy to live in conditions that were prevalent when Timothy Hackworth lived in Shildon.

Has the recent heavy financial investment in Shildon in recent years been worth it I ask myself? - Norman Smith, Newton Aycliffe.

POSTAL VOTING

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with PW Anderson (HAS, Jul 9) when he says that voting is no longer secret and, like him, this is the first time I did not vote.

When I was working, I voted in line with my work pattern, either before I went to work or directly I finished, and now I am finished with work I was still one of the first people into the polling station on election days.

The trouble these days is that most MPs are from a legal background and unless everything is not shrouded in greyness it does not make sense to them; they can't understand anything that is simply black or white.

If, as Tony Blair and his New Labour keep saying, they want more people to vote in elections, why don't they do as many countries around the world have done and made voting in all elections a requirement by law? Or is that too black and white for them and something they can't understand.

We have all seen the chaos that occurred in some parts of the country, with voting papers having to be sent out to replace those that were wrongly posted or were not delivered on time. We had John Prescott saying it was just teething troubles, but we wouldn't be having teething troubles if voting was made a requirement by law. But that option is too black and white for politicians. - Peter Dolan, Newton Aycliffe.

MENTAL HEALTH

IT is high time that the Press and media took a much more positive and responsible attitude towards mental illness.

All we hear about, with very few exceptions, is violent psychopaths.

Let me tell you there is a hidden majority of decent, very sensitive and compassionate people whose voices should be heard above all the sensationalism which the press can muster.

It would also be advantageous in the media if it was mentioned every time that the problem of neurosis and psychosis is dealt with, that it is almost definitely an imbalance of two chemicals in the brain - the balance being restored by appropriate medication. - Ken Jackson, Northallerton.