LIKE it or not G Lewis (You Say, Saturday, April 10), man is an animal.

He or she only becomes civilised by the imposition of discipline, which ought to be imposed in the home by caring parents, within a stable family background.

The civilising process should be continued in the school and college of quality, then sustained by a moral and caring society, but a society that does not take away from a parent individual responsibility.

One would hope that a conscience would be developed in a child (who of course is not born with one) by sound teaching in the tenets of the Christian Faith.

It is a fact that the Jews as well as our Asian friends are equally successful in developing sound, well-balanced citizens.

A nation has to earn its living by utilising the brains of its managers, technologists, technicians and crafts persons, together with the skills and hard work of operatives put into the production processes.

If their products are to sell, then such products must be better and cheaper than our international competitors.

People can only pay taxes to meet the costs of education, social services, housing and amenities, if they are adequately rewarded for work done. Operatives will only do unpleasant jobs if adequately rewarded and paid by results.

But if a person can get more by living on the "treacle stick", then of course he/she is less inclined to work. Discipline means the control of each, for the benefit of all. Get wise, G Lewis.

COUNTY COUNCILLOR TOM WAREING,

Redditch.