SLAVE TRADE

CT Riley (HAS, Dec 1) says that only black African slave traders objected to the abolition of slavery. Does he seriously think that Europeans who profited from this vile trade did not also object?

Of course, the Africans traded in slaves - as did the Greeks, the Romans and almost everyone else - but not on the industrial scale established by the Europeans.

Britain alone carried more than 2.5 million slaves to its American and Caribbean colonies in conditions of such unspeakable cruelty that tens of thousands died a slow and miserable death en route.

Goods produced by these slaves were then shipped to Britain, and other goods sold in Africa to buy more slaves. Britain thus gained enormous wealth at the expense of Africa, a disparity which persists to this day.

Peter Mullen (Echo, Nov 28) gives Christians the credit for abolishing the slave trade, disregarding the courage of the slaves themselves, who rebelled against their oppressors.

He then suggests Islam permits slavery. It is true that Muslims began trading African slaves centuries before the Europeans, but the Church of England itself invested in the slave trade, used slaves on its own plantations, and successfully blocked early attempts at abolition on the basis of Biblical arguments. - Pete Winstanley, Durham.

ANY suggestion that an apology should be made on the behalf of the British Empire for its role in the heinous slave trade is preposterous. It is no different than to suggest any direct descendent of slave traders should be punished on their behalf.

All decent-thinking people will, of course, regret the role our country played in this abhorrent trade and sympathise with those who suffered. It was a trade born of ignorance. However, it was by no means solely a British trade. Slavery was vitally important to the imperial development of France, Spain and Portugal.

Britain was among the first to abolish the evil trade with the Slavery Abolition Act 1834, a part of our history we should celebrate, not disregard.

Instead of allowing liberals to decimate British history for their own agenda, we should celebrate the fact that our Empire's influence remains strong in economic practice, legal and governmental systems, society, sport and the English language to name just a few.

They should concentrate their efforts on the slave trade that still thrives today where the commodities are mostly women and children forced into prostitution. - Des More, Darlington.

TONY BLAIR

MAY I add a few words to those of HAS correspondents about what Tony Blair has or has not achieved.

The first thing he did was to persuade the Labour Party to ditch Clause IV, thus removing any pretence that it was a socialist party. The word "socialism" does not even merit a mention in the party manifesto.

The railways have not been renationalised to achieve a co-ordinated traffic strategy. Today, the taxpayer is giving £60m to the railway companies, which is more than was ever given to British Rail, as well as facing ever-increasing fares, forcing more people onto the roads.

The NHS has been "reformed" by throwing money at it to create more bureaucracy - the PCTs (Primary Care Trusts) have cost millions of pounds and more number crunchers have to be employed, at the expense of doctors and nurses, to provide reams of useless and/or false figures and graphs.

Finally, we have been dragged into an illegal war in Iraq on the coat-tails of President Bush and against the will of the people. Harold Wilson kept us out of Vietnam, but Tony Blair rushed in to wave the imperialist flag as the Tories did at Suez with the same dreadful result. - John W Antill, Darlington.

PRESCRIPTIONS

MY mother went to the doctor recently because she suffers from bad vertigo. She's had this condition for 20 years and, for 20 years, has been successfully treated with medication called Serc.

But when she went to get a prescription for this she was told that the doctors were no longer allowed to use brand names for tablets, but if she asked at the chemist they would give her it.

At the chemist, however, she was informed that she had to have a generic type of this medicine (she had tried this before and it didn't work) because the doctor hadn't put Serc on the prescription and they would lose out on a couple of pounds when they send the prescriptions away.

That bothered me, but what incensed me further was when I got home and read an article about heroin addicts being given heroin for free.

My mother, who has paid her taxes all her life, cannot have the medication she really needs at the loss of a couple of pounds, whereas heroin costs the Government thousands a month. - Sarah Jane Marley, Peterlee, Co Durham.

NELSON MANDELA

IT was possibly the best letter to HAS I've ever had the privilege to read.

In a few simple words, Hugh Pender (Nov 30) managed to convey the debt that the civilised world owes to that greatest of great men, Nelson Mandela.

With respect, I would suggest that one other statesman of the last 100 years stands out as his peer and that is Mahatma Gandhi.

Both of these men faced their enemies and won simply by using the ultimate weapon - the power of goodness.

I visited South Africa recently and echo Mr Pender's thoughts about the future of this beautiful and vibrant land after Mandela has gone.

Whatever their colour or creed, South Africans are worried that his successors will opt for recrimination and revenge rather than truth and reconciliation. Let us hope not. - David Lacey, Durham.

SMOKING BAN

WHY are we having to wait until July next year for the smoking ban in public places in England to come into effect?

Wales becomes non-smoking in April and Scotland is already there.

What exactly do businesses have to do apart from throwing away the ashtrays?

I can't wait for the day when I can go to the pub in nice clothes instead of wearing my old stuff. And I'll be tempted to go to the pub quiz night if I don't end up smelling like an old ashtray.

One day, we'll tell our grandchildren that we used to have to put up with other people's smoke, and they'll be incredulous. - Veronica Piekosz, Great Smeaton, Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

I READ your article about smoking being banned in public places such as pubs, clubs and restaurants, from July 1 (Echo, Dec 1).

If the Government is to start fining people for smoking in public, why is it still allowing cigarettes to be made?

The Government gets tax from cigarettes and now, from July 1, it will get money from fines as well.

If fags, cigars and baccy were not allowed, people wouldn't be able to smoke - and the Government wouldn't get the tax or money from fines.

So, as their saying goes: "Stick that in your pipe and smoke it." From an ex-smoker. - A Wall, Darlington.