Sir, I am sure that most of your readers who have given some thought to the current, emotionally charged debate about the proposal to ban hunting with hounds, must wonder why it has now become a major issue.

At a point in the history of this country when, although we are enjoying what appears to be a sort of prosperity and reasonably stable employment, we see so many real underlying major problems.

The basic manufacturing industries of the nation are disappearing faster than one can say DTI, farming seems to be regarded by the Government as an irrelevance, transport, education and the National Health Service are all somewhat less than perfect, even by Banana Republic standards, meanwhile, we indulge in a verbal civil war over the fox!

All these underlying major problems, as well as several more, such as the need for a decision to be made about our relationship with the EU, may provide an answer.

In previous times, when the national leaders were faced with seemingly intractable problems which threatened their control of the people, a common enemy would be found or created.

If an external threat to unite the nation could not be identified, then an internal one would suffice.

In the past, religious or racial minorities have been employed as a unifying target of state disapproval and popular mistrust.

Even in our own history, this role has been filled by the Flemings, Jews, Catholics, Protestants, and foreigners.

To think that Britain could be split between town and country, because that is what it will come down to, is too ridiculous to be taken seriously.

Because we live in an increasingly town-dwelling society which has no real understanding of the countryside and Parliament now reflects that situation, there is therefore too much scope for opinion-forming by emotion rather than reason based upon personal knowledge.

Television and that element of the press which thrives on conflict, can always be relied upon to fuel disagreement.

One must hope, however, that we are not served by a government which would play such a cynical game, and that we the electorate will not allow ourselves to be stirred into mutual hatred by such an artificial issue.

Whatever we think about hunting, handgun shooters, fly-fishers, golfers, balletomanes or ramblers, unless they are undermining society, it is not the job of our elected representatives to turn them into potential criminals by a self-indulgent piece of superfluous legislation.

They have real work to be done.

They should also remember that there is an election ahead and that while most of us will be using the party political broadcast time, to make a cup of tea, we will, however, be watching what they do about the real problems between now and polling day.

Alan Forsyth

Cartmel Fell