Government must stand up for farmers

WHEN is our farming community going to get the kind of support from our government that it deserves?

Having spent large amounts of money on following the EU ruling on battery hen welfare (Bill Carmichael, Yorkshire Post, December 30), our farmers are not going to get EU or Government support for this expense as non-compliant egg producers in parts of the EU are still going to be allowed to sell their illegal produce.

If the EU is not able to police its own laws, then surely it is up to our Government to unilaterally put an import embargo on eggs and egg products from these countries.

Our farmers surely deserve this better chance of staying in business. We have lost too much of industry, both in manufacturing and in farming, recently for us to sit back and watch more of it go without a fight.

Memories of snow clearing

From: DF Metcalfe, Annes Court, Southowram, Halifax.

WHAT great memories the article by Tom Palmer (Yorkshire Post, December 30) brought to me. I am some 15 years older than Henry Lonsdale but my snow clearing memories run almost parallel with his. I was an engineer who repaired snow clearance equipment.

So I saw ex-army Guy Quads bought for use as snowploughs, snow brushes imported from Sweden and mounted on David Brown tractors, the conversion of lime spreaders to road gritters and many other things. How we longed for it to snow. This meant at least double time wages and over a holiday, triple time wages. I now dread snow, but 50 years ago it was a great adventure.

By sheer coincidence my son, who knows of my snow clearing activities, sent me a picture of the latest snow plough from Surrey County Council. It is a quad motorbike with a snow plough at the front and a gritter trailer at the rear.

I suspect Henry Lonsdale, like myself, will have a good laugh if he looks on the internet at www.elmbridgetoday.co.uk to see the aforementioned snowplough. I suspect that he may call it a toy.

The great clean-up

From: Margaret Claxton, Arden Court, Northallerton.

I AGREE with Arthur Quarmby about the state of the country before the clean-up (Yorkshire Post, December 30).

What always makes me smile when there is a play about that period is that they get all the clothes and vehicles right, but everything is so spotless. Remember railway stations in war time, with everything inches in soot, including the engines? When they use them as props, they shine so you can see your face in them, and old cars and lorries, too. If you went on a rail journey before the war, you wore your best clothes at your peril, for they needed the cleaner when you got home.

Royal family’s workload

From: Don Burslam, Elm Road, Dewsbury Moor, Dewsbury.

WE have all been concerned about Prince Philip’s health. This caused me to think about the contrasting situations of the Queen and that of Queen Victoria.

As is well known, Victoria went into virtual retirement after being widowed in 1861. Now, despite the problems of advancing years, the Royal treadmill revolves endlessly with the Diamond Jubilee approaching.

We will have to see whether Prince Philip can do more than a few token appearances. Surely his health, and that of the Queen’s, must take priority over this ceaseless round of engagements.

There is a certain irony that, whereas Victoria abandoned her public persona when the Empire was at its zenith, our Queen presses on with a full programme when the Commonwealth is less and less significant in global terms.

When silence was required

From: Peter Hyde, Kendale View, Driffield.

AS a former police officer, I cannot help but be disgusted by the actions referred to in the article by Simon Bristow (Yorkshire Post, December 31) about officers posting remarks on Facebook and Twitter.

I never even discussed what I did at work with my family. We were taught that all police matters were confidential and that we would be in serious trouble should we disclose anything that would jeopardise cases or bring disrepute on the force.

One has to wonder what kind of officer the forces are recruiting these days.

During the 30 years I served, it is certain that any unlawful disclosure would have meant a severe punishment or even instant dismissal.

Vital function of libraries

From: Michael Meadowcroft, former Liberal MP, Waterloo Lane, Leeds.

BIDDY Fisher makes a powerful case for supporting public libraries as they adapt to a host of new challenges (Yorkshire Post, December 29). It is also vital to recognise that there are also independent libraries which add yet another dimension to the whole range of libraries.

In Leeds, we are fortunate in having the oldest subscription library in the UK, having been founded way back in 1768. Based today in the centre of Leeds at 18 Commercial Street, the Leeds Library provides both a modern lending library and a remarkable research collection which is open to all on payment of a modest subscription.

Libraries of all types make a vital contribution to the cultural life of our towns and cities.