REGARDING Mr M Madigan's remarks (Letters, December 30) on the subject of black or Asian sections within a wider organisation.

I agree with his comments and, in particular, that with regard to patronage.

However, I am not too keen on the appellation 'ethnic' either as applied to black or Asian peoples, which I consider likewise to be divisive.

This is epitomised in the "We must be kind to the ethnic people" attitude, which is, in fact, another example of patronage.

The dictionary definition of ethnic is - pertaining to races or peoples - it does not specify any particular colour or race, although it appears to be commonly used here for those other than English, and principally black or Asian.

LILLIAN PLEYDELL, Railway Street, Nelson.

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