The xenophobic anti-Europeans

THE ranting letter from Mansfield-Clark recently clearly shows the ignorance of many xenophobic anti-Europeans in their attempts to denigrate anything that looks like being European.

The process of metrication was started in this country 32 years ago and has continued steadily ever since. This was long before we even thought of joining the EEC, and the fact is that all laws relating to metrication have been passed by our own governments (much of it during the last Tory Government) and nothing at all to do with the EEC.

They couldn't care less what system of measurement we have. I worked for an engineering company 50 years ago who used the metric system and what a Godsend it was as well. Much easier than our old system of feet and inches.

I find it staggering that he should blame the EEC for the problems in the engineering industry. Has he forgotten what happened in the Thatcher years when so much damage was done to the industry?

The problems now being encountered are not because of EEC regulations but because of the high value of the pound.

The reason for the decline in the fishing industry is due entirely to the fact that the fishing grounds, that we incidentally do now own, have been so depleted by over-fishing controls have become necessary or they would be wiped out completely.

If fishing was limited to our own waters we would be in a very poor way. You don't find the fishing grounds within three miles of our coastline. Most intelligent people recognise that there has to be some form of control in this area and in many others where we are using our sustainable resources faster than they can regenerate.

The farming industry in this country has caused most of its own problems. You can't blame the EEC for BSE or the foot and mouth epidemic. It appears that in both cases it was a result of feeding badly treated rubbish to the animals.

There is a problem with farming and that is the huge subsidies paid to farmers under the Common Agriculture Policy, which is draining money at a colossal rate from every country in Europe.

Like many anti-Europeans, Mansfield-Clark will, no doubt, believe any stupid story printed in the press, which itself is mainly anti-European, that portrays the EEC in a bad light.

N S Benyon

Hughenden Avenue

High Wycombe