CRICKET WORLD CUP: I WAS pleased to read that Nasser Hussain has stated that the Blair Government alone should take responsibility for boycotting Zimbabwe cricket.

Tony Blair knows quite well that the colonists did not pay for the land when they first dispossessed the African subsistence farmers. Even now they do not use the land to feed the poor of the country.

In their greed for fat and quick profits they produce such crops as tobacco, cereals mainly to feed their own livestock, or, increasingly, dwarf French beans, mange-tout and so-called baby vegetables for British supermarkets.

What sticks in Tony Blair's craw (as far as Zimbabwe is concerned) is that despite the inhuman economic blockade and the hysterical propaganda against Robert Mugabe, his African neighbours and his own people still support Mugabe to the hilt.

South Africa is the main supplier of maize to Zimbabwe. Britain has £75m trade with Zimbabwe.

Boycotting is a very double-edged weapon. If Zimbabwe's African friends were to boycott English cricket the fat would really be in the fire.

Be careful Tony, a good tailor always measures his cloth twice before he cuts. - James Fitzpatrick, Socialist Labour Party, Gateshead.

REGIONAL GOVERNMENT

COUNCILLOR David Taylor-Gooby (HAS, Jan 2) sees the need for a regional assembly in the North-East.

He suggests that the divide between the North and South can be better argued if we accept the regional assembly, yet the arguments he complains about are already known to the Government, or at least that is what I am led to believe by our leaders at local and county council level. And The Northern Echo and other agencies have been stating these points for years.

What difference will a regional assembly make? Other than more talk and promises.

New Labour came to power with a lot of promises regarding devolution. It quickly gave the Scots a nice juicy bone, yet for the last six years has dithered and ignored the needs of the North-East and other English regions.

Because the regional assembly has been put forward as a smokescreen to appease those north of the border, I cannot see the regional assembly being anything more than what it is: a con to keep us arguing among ourselves. - John Young, Crook.

THE story that a new survey will test support for regional government proposals (Echo, Jan 4) states that thousands of people are being asked to find out the level of support in the North of England.

Surely, before any soundings are taken, it would be more appropriate if local people are told of the implications that such important changes in the way we are governed will have on us here in the North-East.

How much extra in taxes, community charge and other means of extraction of finance from our pockets will it cost us to fund this added layer of bureaucracy, which I, for one, am uncertain is really necessary?

I suspect that there are some lurking in the background waiting to pounce upon an unsuspecting populace once the way is cleared for them by the acceptance of the results of a spurious survey, which is now being sent to only a proportion of households in the region.

Until all the facts and figures of any proposed regional government/assembly for the North-East are placed before us to fully peruse and digest what the future implications and costs are likely to be, I suggest that the aforementioned survey is held in abeyance. - John Smith, Shildon.

WAR ON IRAQ

HUGH Pender's assertion that German workers' actions brought an end to the Great War (HAS, Jan 4) is a complete nonsense.

German forces were soundly beaten in many horrific battles in Europe and they sued for peace eventually.

The fact that America had entered the war was also an important factor in that Germany was well aware that American military resources were so vast that defeat would be inevitable in the long run.

I think Hugh Pender is treading on dangerous ground in his comments on how the Iraq situation could be curtailed without any conflict at all.

He is preaching possible civil disobedience to the Government's position over Iraq - despite the fact we have an elected government, whether we agree with its attitude or not - and we must change the government when we can or accept what steps it takes in this crisis.

It should be remembered that America entered the First World War for the purest of motives - not for any material gains they could have achieved. - Peter Johnson, Darlington.

CHRISTMAS CRACKERS

AGAIN we see children struggling when trying to pull a Christmas cracker and finding it too strong for them, so mummy or daddy has to help and again we see the same child getting the larger part and the toy inside and the other child getting nothing.

Why don't manufacturers perforate one side of the paper so that the children can pull the cracker themselves?

It would also indicate which side will break and the parents can ensure that the prize inside will go to the child whose turn it is to get one. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

MUSIC HALL

THE project to save North-East traditional and music hall songs from oblivion (Echo, Jan 1) is an excellent idea.

Most modern pop songs are here today and gone tomorrow. The majority, especially so-called rap music, have no tune and the words are unintelligible to most people over the age of 12. There is no tradition or folk memory being laid in such music.

Well done and thank you, to all the people involved with the project, especially the well-known artists who have given their time and talents to ensure the CDs are best sellers.

The collection will bring much pleasure to many people. - EA Moralee, Billingham.