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In the context of the
current fierce debate on the working of the British Railways, the following
letter dated June 3, from Mr. I. Munro of Dorset to the Editor, The Times is
eloquent:
Sir, Whilst awaiting the passage of an
intercity train at a Dorset level crossing recently, I contemplated the
absurdity of a situation where some 50 vehicles including tourist buses, cars,
etc. containing probably 200 travellers, had to give precedence to a form of
conveyance carrying 14 persons (yes, I counted).
Perhaps it would be more
efficient to turn the crossing barrier through 90 degrees and make the train
wait for a gap in road traffic.
This one dated June 1
from Mr. Martin Davies of Cornwall makes a point rather coldly:
Sir, The other day, my wife returned from
Iceland (the frozen food store, not the country) with a tub of the company’s
own-brand raspberry ripple ice cream. On the label, in capital letters, was the
reassuring statement: ”This product has been made in a production area where no
nuts are present.”
And this letter from
Prof. Bryan Woodward of Leicestershire points to an ultimate:
Sir, My local council has recently advertised
for a “Tea Person”(“relevant training will be given”) at a salary of “£4.8033”
per hour (British Pounds four point eight, zero, three, three per hour).
Is this the ultimate in
penny-pinching?
The ways of government departments are not very different between
countries. The following letter dated June 11 from Mr. Roger Bacon of Arlingham
indicates this:
Sir, A letter from Pensions Department seeks my help: “If this letter
contains your correct address, you do not have to do anything. If the address
on this letter is wrong, please tell us your correct details on the enclosed
form.”
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©smsingru June
2002