Today’s letters to The Courier.
Howff gravestone appeal fell on deaf earsSir,-One could almost feel the pride throughout J.J. Marshall’s column about Morgan Academy, Dundee.
What a pity he, and all the other former pupils, are not prepared to do something about the Morgan gravestone in the Howff.
Some nine years ago The Nine Trades found it in a disgraceful state.
They spent a great deal of money having new pillars cut and the stone repaired and replaced.
The stone, however, needs the inscription re-cut. We obtained a quote of some £1300 for the work and committed the sum of £300 to start things off.
Despite repeated pleas, often in your paper, for money to make up the balance, we have only had one response, a cheque from one grateful past pupil for £40.
So much for the great pride Morgan pupils have in their old school. Work that out at a cost per proud pupil and it is less than a loaf of bread. Some pride.
Innes A. Duffus.Dundee.Law Society stayed quietSir,-It must be really demoralising for law students, especially graduates trying to complete their articles and many still seeking employment, to see their profession being further denigrated.
I would have thought that, even with its blemishes, the Scottish Law Society would be more than capable of dealing with any criminal case or human rights issue without any outside intervention.
Whether politics were involved or not, I remember in 2009 the lord chancellor was one of the main instigators of the Supreme Court. At that time only three High Court judges from Scotland were appointed.
With an issue proving so important to our nation, was there even a murmur at any level from the Scottish Law Society?
In a constantly changing world perhaps now is the time for a re-appraisal of the Law Society and its role.
James M. Fraser.39 High Street,Leven.Pension grumbles overstatedSir,-This morning’s editorial (June 29) was spot on when it claimed the public-sector pension issue should have been addressed by the Labour government in 2005 when they memorably funked it.
Increased longevity makes impossible continuance of an unreformed system. A 3% increase in contributions and a retirement age of 66 is not the end of the world.
The professions tend to overestimate the income they will need in retirement and my kirk pension of £12,000 after 35 years, plus my state pension, has proved fine.
My medical brothers received over four times that amount and retirement at 60 but I found the closing years before retirement at just past 65 the most rewarding of my entire career.
As long as the poorer-paid public sector workers are protected, I think the better-off professionals with school fees and mortgages long past should keep a grip on reality.
(Dr) John Cameron.10 Howard Place,St Andrews.
Not the saviours they pretendSir,-The SNP’s Alex Orr (June 27) is right to highlight Scotland’s marginally better public spending deficit as compared to the UK generally, but at least the Westminster government has acknowledged the need to get it under control.
However, the SNP wants to see a Scotland with fiscal policies like slashed corporation tax, significantly reduced fuel duty and tax breaks for favoured sectors such as computer games.
The SNP is clearly reluctant to raise income tax or council taxes, or to impose a windfall tax on oil companies. But it makes lavish spending commitments.
It surely ill behoves the Nationalists to favourably compare Scotland’s deficit to that of the UK. No wonder the SNP is so keen for Scotland to have borrowing powers.
Mr Orr highlights the role of oil revenues in an independent Scotland. But this merely underlines yet another future drain on Scotland’s public purse, namely the subsidy-hungry renewables industry.
There would also be a stealth tax in the form of rocketing energy bills.
The SNP’s attempts to depict themselves as the planet’s environmental saviours, while at the same time portraying oil as the key to Scotland’s future, shows that the party wants to have its renewables cake and eat it.
Stuart Winton.Hilltown,Dundee.
Fairtrade status undermined
Sir,-I note with interest your article (June 28) about Scotland being on course to become the world’s second Fair Trade nation. Having been on the original working group which helped set up the Scottish Fair Trade Forum back in 2006, I think it would be wonderful to see this goal being achieved.
Dundee became a Fairtrade City in March 2004, the first in Scotland, but this status needs to be renewed.
That is currently under threat because, unlike other local authorities, Dundee City Council does not automatically provide Fairtrade catering for meetings.
It would be a great shame if Scotland’s Fair Trade nation accolade were denied because its first Fairtrade city lost its status.
Sally Romilly.4 Westwood Terrace,Newport-on-Tay.
Leuchars still at riskSir,-The fact that the MoD has spent millions on RAF Leuchars is no guarantee of saviour.
Remember that a new hangar complex was built for rescue helicopters of 22 Squadron, only for the RAF to disband the flight.
Stephen Pickering.19 Abbey Court,St Andrews.