JOHN Farrer (Letters, July 25) misses the point.

Democracy as practised in Athens all those years ago relied upon the majority taking part, not the minority, so that decisions were truly representative.

Of the 32 per cent who voted in the Netherton Ward by-election in Great Harwood, approximately 19 per cent voted for the elected man. That must mean that 81 per cent either did not vote, or did not want the Labour candidate. But Labour was elected.

Expressed in those terms, to claim a victory for democracy is a bit thin. What Mr Farrer and his political chums do not discuss is: why the low turn-out? Although apathy is often given as a 'catch all' excuse, perhaps the truth is that the public has lost confidence in their elected councillors.

To preserve democracy, the democratic process must be without fault and not favour one side. The Hyndburn audit investigation, "in the public interest" is centred on the conduct of the 1999 council elections. Serious questions were raised which remain unanswered.

Given those circumstances, Mr Farrer believes that it is fine for the public to vote in ignorance. If that is the rationale Labour and Conservative councillors wish to perpetuate, fewer and fewer citizens will bother to vote.

Why? Because such rationale insults the intelligence of the people. We do not have democracy; we have minority rule by zealot political groups where one party votes to keep the other out, not for the benefit of the borough. That is why Hyndburn is as it is.

PHILIP CONGDON, Hindle Fold Lane, Great Harwood.