Wednesday's Letters: We make security checks – so why can't Israel?

We seem to have forgotten about all the checks our country makes, particularly at airports, of what comes in and what goes out.

That is why we have the three-hour delays which most of us abhor, but accept as a necessary evil. So why blame them and assume they are wrong?

It's got to be sorted out, without a doubt. It can't be left to fester.

There has to be a settlement of two states, whether Israel and

Palestine want it or not.

From: D Birch, Smithy Lane, Cookridge, Leeds.

From: John Denby, Station Road, Fenay Bridge, Huddersfield.

AMID all the anti-Israel propaganda, we have heard absolutely nothing

about the duties of a ship's captain concerning the safety of his passengers, crew and ship.

Surely the captain must take full responsibility for recklessly hazarding his ship (when plainly warned) and lost lives.

Presumably he has a Master's certificate and this action should lead to him being "struck off", along with his first officer.

The ship also must have some kind of insurance, as it was

carrying "passengers".

We are being taken as fools by Hamas and the media.

From: Martin D Stern, Hanover Gardens, Salford.

FURTHER to RW Bates's observation (Yorkshire Post, June 8) that the "reason for the blockade is an attempt to stop weapons of war and materials to make weapons of war from reaching Hamas".

The capture, some years ago, of the Katrine, loaded with such cargo en route for Gaza shows this is not just pro-Israeli paranoia but a very real threat to its existence.

From: Bob Crowther, High Street, Crigglestone, Wakefield.

WHILE not wishing to be drawn into the political machinations of the Gaza incident, I am mystified as to why a flotilla of aid vessels were full to the brim with public "passengers".

Surely, if the vessels were under a master and crew alone, the violence and bloodshed could have been prevented.

During the many debates upon the subject, I have never witnessed the question being raised.

Time to view fox in a very different light

From: Jeffrey Stirk, Newton-le-Willows, Bedale, North Yorkshire.

IF there ever was a case for the resumption of fox hunting, the story of the two children being attacked by a fox must add weight to that case.

I am not advocating that hounds meet in the middle of London but I am asking that people view the fox in a very different light. The view that the fox is a cuddly, furry animal must be now blown clear out of the water.

The fox is a very vicious killer and any idea that it can live in harmony with humans is a complete myth.

Let's hope that the two little girls suffer no lasting effects and that TV programmes and so-called animal experts stop encouraging a similar event. We in the country could claim that we could have told you so.

Yorkshire folk are the best

From: Mrs Susan Dyer (nee Tregenza), Meadow Way, White Ladies Aston, Worcs.

I WAS born and brought up in Brighouse. There were aunts, a cousin and a granny in Leeds who were visited during childhood.

I then left Yorkshire and hot-footed it to Worcestershire and it was not really until my mid to older age that I began to return to care for those now old and infirm relatives.

Over the course of, say, 20 years I have raced up the M62 or M1, got lost in Leeds, been stopped for speeding because I had Sunday lunch in the car for my parents, and had many similar adventures. Through all of that I received nothing but kindness and courtesy and basic goodness from Yorkshire people of all colours, sizes and shapes!

Now that I only have one school friend left to visit in Yorkshire, I just wanted to say a big thank-you to all Yorkshire people. It's a county not always the most beautiful, but, by Jove, Yorkshire people are still the best, most constant, honest, good people in all the world.

Shame about the potholes in Leeds city – but that's just a small thing!

I wish you all the very best, and will continue to fight Yorkshire's corner in my little piece of Worcestershire.

Drowned out by the music

From: Ray Lazenby, Avenue Victoria, Scarborough.

I AM an octogenarian, and my hearing may not be perfect, but why do the makers of TV dramas insist on larding their productions with background music so that what the actors are saying is not decipherable? And not just for the odd minute, but virtually throughout the production.

I appreciate the intention of building atmosphere, but I remember repertory theatres, which rarely, if ever, introduced background music, yet created telling atmosphere very nicely, thank you.

Our Stephen Joseph Theatre here in Scarborough manages very successfully to present plays without drowning out the actors' deliveries.

And that is not all. Why do the makers of TV entertainment programmes, it matters not for which channel, bring up the music so loudly that one has to strain to make out what a singer, who is the whole point of the presentation, is singing about?

A case in point – the treatment of the octogenarian singer in a recent semi-final of Britain's Got Talent. Her great feature is the power of her voice – yet it was virtually drowned out by the band.

Solutions to binge drinking

From: Ian R Bolton, Knightsbridge Walk, Bierley.

TO avoid binge drinking, what we want is not a minimum price but a restriction to the access to drink.

If people want to drink, they will buy it no matter the price.

Did we have the problem of binge drinking before the licensing hours were relaxed?

I say let's impose stricter licensing hours and see what effect that has.

n City/town centre pubs open from 11.30am to 10pm.

n Out of city/town pubs close at 10.30pm.

n Supermarkets not allowed to sell drink after 6pm Monday to Saturday and not at all on Sundays nor on Good Friday.

n Let local off-licences continue as they are because we need to retain local shops.

I enjoy a drink but I do not want to have to pay an excessive amount to enjoy my pint. I would rather be restricted in my access to it.

Wind as a source of power is not the answer

From: D Wood, Thorntree Lane, Goole.

WITH regard to your editorial piece "Winds of Change" (Yorkshire Post, June 3), you state that there are "sceptics who decry such sources of power".

I would suggest that such people are not sceptics but are merely being realists, as the facts are all there to prove that these monstrosities are a huge white elephant.

It is well known that these contraptions are only available for approximately 27 per cent of the time as the rest of the time there is no wind – or the wind is too strong and they cannot be used.

The claims for what these wind farms can produce also seems to have been exaggerated, as it has been stated that none of them has yet produced 50 per cent of the power capacity claimed for them. To reach the quoted capacity would require an optimum wind source, something which is almost impossible.

These windmills are supposed to cut CO2 emissions but more CO2 is used in their manufacture and installation than they are ever likely to offset.

Then, of course, there is the cost; these windmills are backed by a 60 per cent government – taxpayer-funded – subsidy. They produce very small amounts of electricity at 11p a unit compared with 4p a unit from Drax power station. Without this subsidy they would be unviable and no-one would want to build them, because making a profit would be impossible.

The jobs they produce in making them are mostly foreign – except, of course, for David Brown the world's finest gear manufacturer – and are not really long-term jobs.

If, on the other hand, the British government had applied a 60 per cent subsidy to some of our other industries, then we would still be building lots of cars, ships, airplanes and making large quantities of

steel, all of which would provide real jobs.

As coal, oil and gas run out, we will need alternative sources of power. This is not disputed. Sadly, wind is a kneejerk reaction and is not the answer. We must look elsewhere before it is too late and we are all sat in the cold and dark.

Back in time with Hiawatha

From: Kenneth Streets, St Patrick's Walk, Heysham, Morecambe,

Lancashire.

I REFER to the letter about the Scarborough open-air theatre (Yorkshire Post, June 2).

I, too, remember seeing Hiawatha in about 1935 or 1936 – and the bass soloist was Henry Gill, originally from Silsden, who made a name for himself in London. The feathered headdress he wore was quite magnificent.

It was possible for the audience to hire rugs for a small charge to put over one's knees on the chilly August evenings.

Happy memories.

Domino picture was spot on

From: John Gordon, Whitcliffe Lane, Ripon, North Yorkshire.

I BUY your paper for its excellent coverage of country life. Your picture from the archive (Yorkshire Post, June 8) of the dog being taught to play dominoes was a delight.

As I looked at it, all the murders and misery of every day life disappeared and I went to work with a song in my heart.

Lorries add to motorway misery

From: Hilary Andrews, Nursery Lane, Leeds.

TRAVELLING on the motorway on Sunday with my grandchildren was a nightmare. There was all the returning holiday traffic after the half-term, plus several large lorries, mostly of European origin, impeding the smooth flow of traffic.

As we are part of Europe, why can't we forbid lorries to travel on the motorways at the weekend unless they have special permission? I understand this is standard practice on the Continent.

Once again, we are the suckers of Europe.

Enormous talent on two wheels

From: Arnold Senior, Rose Avenue, Upton, Pontefract.

BILL Bridge misused the word "enormity" in his sporting bygones column (Yorkshire Post, June 7) about the achievements of the great cyclist Beryl Burton. I quote from the article "...and the enormity of her talent...".

My Oxford Dictionary gives the meaning as "monstrous wickedness" and most reference sources are I think in general agreement.

I am sure Beryl was not a monstrously wicked talent – enormous talent certainly.