Indigenous workshy leave door open

HAVING read the Editorial comment and headline on the front page (Yorkshire Post, January 13), the need to build more primary schools in the region is merely one of today’s problems which I anticipated resulting from too much immigration.

Almost two years ago, I wrote a short account about the unsettling effects of a large scale of immigration over a relatively short period of time (Yorkshire Post, March 2, 2010).

I concluded my letter by maintaining that the grass may have been greener in our pleasant land over the past few decades, but much of that has now been either paved over or its pastures have been over-grazed. It appears that I am correct because our green pastures continue to be encroached upon and this process will not abate in the foreseeable future.

It is apparent that some idealistic people in authority during recent years have believed that bringing in large numbers of people to do the jobs that the indigenous people are, apparently, unwilling to do would lead to prosperity in our region and benefit our nation as a whole. This concept is fine if people are working, creating wealth and paying their taxes.

Furthermore, I am amazed that the current situation has been sustainable for as long as it has been. On a daily basis, we read about bleak financial forecasts and the possibility of austerity for many long years. In spite of ominous, dark financial clouds gathering, the influx of foreign workers continues as the feckless and workshy indigenous people produce more and more offspring, and even more provisions will need to be made as the years roll by.

If the unemployment situation continues to worsen, we will need common sense to prevail. We need to stop immigration generally until the employment situation improves and the existing problems which face us have been identified, addressed and resolved.

From: Allan Davies, Heathfield Court, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire.

ELIZABETH Truss (Yorkshire Post, January 10) advocates giving back to universities the task of setting O and A-level examination papers. Elsewhere, Mr Gove waxes eloquently on his proposed E-Bacc scheme.

As Ms Truss has written, universities did set O and A-level papers until recently (only the AEB was not attached to a university). It is the shift to the private sector commercial organisations that is just part of the neo-liberal ideology of the last 30 years which is at the root of doubtful standards.

Coming to Mr Gove, when he speaks enthusiastically of an E-Bacc system, he appears unaware that the former school certificate (and higher school certificate) was, in effect, E-Baccs.

The school certificate, which I took in 1945, required candidates to pass in five subjects – English language, mathematics, a foreign language, a science and one other subject (a humanity) typically history at one and the same sitting.

Only when O and A-levels were introduced circa 1950 were single-subject entries allowed. I can see no reason why this should not continue. The results are shown clearly on the certificates.

What is essential is that the integrity of the system should be preserved. It is the creeping commercialisation which puts this in jeopardy.

Who does he think he is?

From: Bob Swallow, Townhead Avenue, Settle.

I REFER to your front page article ‘Swift by Name: Pensioner drove at 147 mph on A64’ which appalled me (Yorkshire Post, January 12).

Who does this company director Owen Swift think he is? Quite clearly, he regards himself as being above the law. One wonders with such an attitude just how he treats his staff?

There must be a case in such extreme cases of speeding for more radical action. The fine of £700 plus £650 costs is chicken feed to one such. The nine-month driving ban might dent his pride – if indeed it is observed – one hopes if not and caught as it were in the act that a term as a guest of Her Majesty would be of more benefit.

It is interesting to note that Mr Swift has it appears anticipated my final suggestion by changing from his £81,000 Jaguar to one costing a mere £35,000. That suggestion is that in such extreme cases where the safety of others clearly counts for naught, the vehicle should be impounded and crushed!

Watching over York

From: William Dixon Smith, Welland Rise, Acomb, York.

AS York Art Gallery’s magnificent William Etty exhibition sadly draws to a close, it is perhaps not inappropriate to refer to “a hidden gem” unmentioned by Martin Taylor (Yorkshire Post, January 11).

York Library and Archives hold the largest collection of the correspondence of William Etty extant. Six years ago, with the encouragement of the then local history librarian, Sue Rigby, I undertook the preservation, cataloguing, transcription and annotating of the entire collection. This was a mammoth assignment, and is yet to be completed.

A brief description of the collection may be seen at yorkmix.com. Besides putting my catalogue online, I decided to put a representative selection of my annotated transcriptions online too – at yorkwatch.com.