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Protest plea over Canadian seal cull
From: Suzanne Hart, York Place Company Services Ltd, Leeds. Twenty-three years later, and the Canadian government consider that we will have forgotten the havoc and destruction of the seal cull which was permitted up to the early 1980s, as they introduce the current commercial cull. No shame or excuse – they simply want to kill the seals for their pelts. No shame or excuse – they hack the seal cubs with long-handled pick-axes as they lie vulnerable in the snow.
The Canadian government says it looks worse than it is because of the red blood against the white snow – how staggering a comment.
It looks and is bad because we kill mercilessly for profit. We commercially cull because money can be made, not because the seals have some vital ingredient without which we could not live. This is culling for no good purpose.
By the end of April, 350,000 seal cubs will have been destroyed. If the Canadian government is not made to stop this, we have reduced ourselves to savages and will have decimated the seal population.
One weak statement by a representative of the Canadian government suggested the seals were the cause of the fish depopulation, thereby sealing their fate.
Seals eat only to live. We live to eat whatever we can have, and in many cases without thought of the cost for the future.
Commercial fishing without proper stock management has led to the present problems. There is no scientific evidence linking the seal population with the demise of fish stocks.
There is, however, overwhelming evidence that it is man who is the cause of the low fish stocks and not seals.
I ask that readers write to their MP, or the Canadian Embassy in London, or the European Commission in Brussels, or the papers – but to do something to tell Canada that we won't have it.
From: John Calvert, Prince Henry Road, Otley, West Yorkshire.
Is it me? Having read both the article on page one of the Yorkshire Post (April 13), about train services from Leeds to Sheffield, and your editorial, twice, I am at a loss to understand the problem.
One minute I think I comprehend it, the solution seemingly to be so simple, and the next I'm thrown into confusion by the comments that it is not simple.
If Virgin Rail acknowledge that there is overcrowding, then why can't they buy a few more carriages to carry more passengers, or buy a few more trains to run half-hourly services?
This seems such a simple, no-brainer, that anyone could work it out, and one I get the impression that Virgin would like to implement. A suspicion is growing in my mind that the Strategic Rail Authority is somehow involved.
Please don't say that, having allocated train operating licences, the SRA then interferes with the way these services are run, to the extent that Virgin's hands are tied on the service they offer.
Am I missing something?
From: Canon Glyn Webster, Acting Dean of York.
With regard to the letter from "Andrew Leighton" (April 12) concerning the Minster's finances, I wish to object in the strongest terms to this inaccurate piece being printed, and with such prominence.
Firstly, we have checked and certainly no-one of that name lives in Queen Anne's Road, nor apparently anywhere in York, as far as we can ascertain: what measures do you have in place to ensure that the letters you print are authentic? Whatever they are, I would suggest they need review.
Secondly, the letter contains gross inaccuracies about financial information, which your staff have already had from the accounts.
It is highly irresponsible to print such misinformation without any kind of comment or rider to that effect.
Finally, I would question why the piece and its predecessor from BH Taylor (March 1) was given such prominence by attaching a picture of the Minster's interior, a "favour" not extended to any other items on the pages I noted.
n Editor's note: Great care is always taken to ensure the accuracy of letters, and we always ask for names, addresses and telephone numbers to be given. We check as many as we can but it is not always possible to contact everyone who writes to us.
The Andrew Leighton letter had a name, address and telephone number and certainly appeared to be legitimate.
However, checks have since revealed he does not live at the address given.
Quite why anyone would want to do this is difficult to understand but we apologise for publishing a letter containing such misinformation.
We did not give the letter undue prominence because it was about York Minster but we always select a letter every day which can be illustrated with a picture.
It is fair comment to say that we used pictures of the Minster with both the Andrew Leighton letter of April 12, and the BH Taylor letter of March 1.
With hindsight, it would have been better to have chosen a different letter to illustrate on one of those days, but in the hectic process of producing a daily paper it is not always possible to think back to the letters we have illustrated a month ago.
The more recent letter did appear to have continued a strongly argued debate to which officials at the Minster would have been welcome to contribute to and clarify at any time.
Why there's hope for the future of farming
From: Mrs Bridget Noble, Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees.
I have always said however bad or depressing the news is, the Yorkshire Post always has an article in it most days to lift the spirit and give us hope.
On April 12, it was young farmer Richard Stoney. With all the worries and difficulties of farming at the present time, Beryl Bell is quite right when she says with young men like Richard, we needn't worry about its future. It is in safe hands.
I have to say, it made my day!
Politicians' 'duty' to fight racism
From: Mary Creagh, Prah Road, London.
As a Labour councillor, I would be happy to sign Wakefield Council's anti-racist statement.
All politicians must stand together against racism at this time.
I was shocked that Coun David Hopkins, Wakefield's Tory Group Leader, dismissed it as "a bit of nonsense". Does this represent national Conservative Party policy? If not, Michael Howard should come out and say so.
Wakefield is a welcoming, tolerant city. All its politicians have a duty to keep it that way, and to expose those seeking to play on lies and irrational fears for electoral gain.
Sign of the times
From: Norman Elliott, Marshland House, Church Street, South Cave,
East Yorkshire.
Bearing in mind that the two Kosovans have won their damages case against the MoD, am I correct in assuming that all Forces' personnel on guard duty at check-points, when stopping those approaching, will first get them to sign a disclaimer before shooting?
Animal suffering
From: David Charlesworth, Bradwell Avenue, Gilroyd, Barnsley.
Recently, I was horrified to learn that an investigation into supermarkets and butchers uncovered shocking evidence of animal suffering.
The filmed report found ducks squashed into dirty, stinking sheds. No water was available for these aquatic birds, and a large number were dead, disabled or in severe distress.
All farm animals are kept for food, but a high standard of welfare should be maintained for these pathetic animals.
Most customers assume that meat suppliers use caring producers. The pictures of mistreatment are a disgrace. I will not buy any more duck meat and urge other customers to do the same.
Bleak outlook
From: Mrs Jean Evans, Norton, Malton.
Anyone who watched the Channel 5 programme, Hitler's Britain, may have connected it mentally with the new European Community as planned for the future.
Instead of Hitler's plans, we shall soon have a Franco-German empire stretching from the Baltic to the Mediterranean, and two large states will flout the rules, as they do at present, and get away with it.
We shall obey them, and lose out.
Fond memories of
a lovely old church
From: Mrs SP Kirman, Lane End Cottage, Harpham, Driffield, East Yorkshire.
It was nice to see all the pictures of
Adel Church, Leeds in the Yorkshire Post (April 6).
My connection with this lovely old church dates back to early 1940-late 1950 when I resided at Adel School House with my grandparents. My grandfather was the headmaster of the Church of England School and, as such, was a churchwarden.
He also was a very accomplished amateur artist and I have in my possession a lovely watercolour painting of Adel Church at Moonlight which has many happy memories for me.
My grandfather and great grandfather,
Vincent William Sternberg, are both buried in the churchyard.
My uncle, VWB Sternberg, was employed by the Yorkshire Evening Post. He worked
at the Leeds office originally and later
in London's Fleet Street as political correspondent.
Name and Address supplied.
Here is another story about Adel Church. During the time Henry VIII was pillaging religious centres, Adel Church was saved because locals covered it in hay, so that it looked like a large haystack.
I was told this story many years ago, but, unfortunately, cannot recall who told it. I have always thought it quite delightful.
l Next Tuesday's Lives and Times: The opening of the Pennine Way and how an iron-lung saved the life of a teenager.
Days when the horse was a driving force
From: Judith and Carlton Ives, Blue Hills Farm, Birkenshaw.
It was nice to see so many working horses of the past in the Yorkshire Post's 250 years' celebration feature.
Ours was one of the last working horses in the area of Drub, Gomersal, delivering people's daily pinta, seven days a week, in the 1960s.
Now we don't know where there is one delivering in the country.
If anyone does, please ring 01274-682007 – we are very interested to hear.
From: Mrs Gladys Emmott, Currer Wood Farm, Steeton, Keighley, West Yorkshire
I love to see pictures of working farm horses. This is one of me learning to mow with a double horse machine with Betty and Bobby and my dad watching on. Later, the horses had to shake the grass out, row it up and go in carts to lead loose hay into the barn until dark each day. This picture is about 55 years old.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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