I AM glad that more attention is being paid by Holyrood to the possible drawbacks of our rapid progression towards the UK becoming a cashless society. The deliberate reduction in available “hole-in-the-wall” cash-machines and local bank branches is part of the industry herding us towards relying on plastic in much the same way as the proliferation of supermarket self-service check-outs has been forced upon us.
The carrot of convenience has been used by the banking establishment to foster the acceptance of a system that will ultimately give them complete control of all our personal finances.
If history tells us anything it is that the banking system is not philanthropic but exists only to make profit, its proven involvement in laundering the profits of crime and tax evasion and the decade of austerity caused in part by the mortgage fiasco are just some recent lessons that should not be overlooked.
Despite multiple astonishing examples of malfeasance in the financial sector the paucity of senior bankers ever incarcerated is testament to the influence the industry possesses. It is one short step from retailers refusing to accept hard cash to its use being officially discontinued.
Once that happens, the banks can do exactly what they want and there will be absolutely nothing that you and I can do to stop them. What use then of a biscuit tin stuffed with hoarded fivers and tenners?
David J Crawford, Glasgow
Meanwhile, in lighter news ...
IN her article “Sunrise sees thousands gathering for the longest-day celebrations (The Herald, June 22) by Rohese Devereux-Taylor says Scotland was not short of celebrations “to welcome the 16 hours and 38 minutes of daylight”.
Actually, 16 hours and 38 minutes of daylight is the longest day in the centre of London. Scotland’s southernmost point, Mull of Galloway, has a longest day of 17 hours and 17 minutes, 39 minutes longer than centre of London.
Furthermore, the northernmost point of mainland Scotland, Dunnet Head, has a longest day of 18 hours and 24 minutes.
The Ring of Brodgar, Orkney, has a longest day of 18 hours and 31 minutes. And Scotland’s northernmost point - Out Stack, Shetland - has a longest day of 19 hours and 13 minutes - two hours and 35 minutes longer than the centre of London.
Thomas Murray, Perth
Indelicate
I CONFESS that mending, darning, underslips, hand-washing “delicates” and 70 denier are rarely part of my vocabulary but I marvel at Thelma Edward’s restraint and self-discipline that she can delay reading The Herald until evening time, (‘Clothes sense’, Letters, June 24 ),
I am obliged to her for a trip down memory lane and the sometimes thrill of static off my then-young wife’s habiliments.
R Russell Smith, Kilbirnie
Talking sport
THE Scotland women footballers did not emulate their male counterparts in glorious failure only.
They put their boots in here and there and fell about trying to gain free-kicks.
It did not need much skill in lip reading to interpret their reactions to certain refereeing decisions either.
In their choice of words they were not simply copying male footballers but also expressing the crudities of today’s everyday language.
Rev Dr Robert Anderson
Dundonald
FURTHER to recent correspondence in these pages on the subject of Gaelic, I see there are Gaelic swimming lessons being advertised in Lochaber.
John Dunlop, Ayr
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