THE Stakhanovites inside that bureaucratic job-creating paradise known as the European Commission have yet again demonstrated their devotion to The Cause: I refer to their latest success - the drafting of regulations governing food laws that will, amongst many food-processes, include those affecting shot game-birds, and the policy thereof.

A game-bird is certainly better cared-for than any fowl produced by the food industry. Owners of shoots invest large sums of money to provide skill-testing flights of birds for the guns ... flying performances given only by healthy, alert birds.

Gamekeepers take the greatest possible care of their birds. The well-kept roosting pens are visited at least twice daily; the birds are watered, and fed on expensive grain. Keepers immediately spot an ailing bird, and remove it at once.

Gun-birds have all the space that they wish; the area of land in which they live is extensive enough to test the legs of fit men!

It is difficult to think of any creature reared for human consumption that it so carefully reared as a game-bird.

Still, I must confess that I would rather like the doubtless well-paid job over-seeing the shoots hereabouts! In terms of hygienic care of the birds, the job would be a doddle! The added bonus being the pleasure of touring lovely countryside of a character rarely visited by non-sporting persons!

ARTHUR ROBINSON, Village Street, Harvington.