I HAVE met Coun Smith, and although I do not share his political beliefs, I was impressed by his obvious concern for the people he represents.

Perhaps he recalls a discussion on my doorstep when he was castigating privatised utilities' 'fat cats.'

He denied that there should be any connection between the turnover of the industries concerned and the salaries in question. Nor, he maintained, should any parallel be drawn between these and those available in the market in general.

While it is true that Blackburn Council's 'turnover' will be considerably increased, it is also true that most of the services will continue with very little change.

So, although it is inevitable that with direct control of education, social services and libraries the total pay will be more, why is the rate of pay going up?

K C REYNOLDS, Hindle Street, Darwen.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.