AS A former business owner I can say without doubt that the living wage, while idealistically positive, is not the way to create jobs.

If anything, it will lead to the loss of jobs.

I find myself agreeing with Mr Steven Leigh of the Chamber of Commerce and his comments about the private sector.

Had this been introduced prior to my retirement I and my finance manager would have had to work out how many staff we could afford to pay at the higher wage, and let go whatever number of staff we could not afford.

In public service there is a set amount of money guaranteed. In the private sector there is not, and that could vary from one month to the next.

Reading the Examiner story (March 7), as I did several times as I found it intriguing, I feel that Mr David Smith, the Kirklees Council Director of Resources is quite right to be cautious.

We ratepayers would surely be worried if he was anything but cautious.

He comes across as an intelligent man and I believe an intelligent man could not agree that it's the right thing for Kirklees, especially given such economic uncertainty.

If it is a question of providing services or raising the wage bill, I feel Kirklees should put its ratepayers first and retain the services.

I would wholeheartedly object to my council tax going up to fund this.

Council staff are, by and large, well paid and well pensioned. I doubt a single council worker earns less than minimum wage and they like the private sector should expect to muddle by until the country recovers, otherwise the pay gap between public and private deepens.

I do feel for people who struggle to pay their bills each month on the minimum wage, but surely all can agree the minimum wage is better than living on benefits.

I do hope those who believe employers should bring in the minimum wage actively campaign for the government, for they are the only authority who can truly do something towards a better standard of living, to lobby the utility companies who, let’s be honest, are the reason the cost of living is as high as it is.

David Lewis

Huddersfield

So good we went back

FOLLOWING your write up in the Examiner (March 4) about the Brockholes history weekend, I must, through your paper, congratulate the organisers for a very interesting two days.

I didn’t manage to see all that was on offer on Saturday so went again on Sunday.

The church displays were very interesting and so was the film show in the village hall.

Everyone was very friendly and I hope they do something similar again.

MRS N BROADBENT

Netherton

Well done, Brockholes

MY wife and I visited the Brockholes History Event at the weekend and had a superb day.

My great-grandfather had been born in the village at the beginning of the last century, but moved away as a young man and I was interested to see what his early life would have been like.

The event was extremely well organised and the people so very friendly.

We listened to a delightful school choir at the beginning of the day and eat some delicious homemade fayre.

There were representatives from all manner of clubs and societies and all friendly and knowledgeable.

Congratulations to the people of Brockholes on providing such a well thought out day – they even got the sun to shine!

GEOFF AND ANITA BRIERS

Rastrick

Warm welcome

OVER the weekend we visited the history event held in Brockholes near Holmfirth.

My husband and I travelled from Cleckheaton and had a really enjoyable day. There were some very interesting clubs and exhibits and all the people were very friendly and welcoming.

The church is one of the prettiest we have visited and we were amazed at all the information available on such a small village. The film show was also very interesting.

Congratulations to all who were involved.

MR AND MRS RON THOMPSON

Cleckheaton

Move with the times

I READ the report regarding the location of glass banks after the cessation of glass collections and I note that the report (Examiner, March 7) states that one will be located near the Texaco garage on Woodhead Road.

Speaking as a resident of Holmfirth I would like to point out that we don’t have a Texaco garage on Woodhead Road, nor do we have a garage providing fuel anywhere in the Valley.

When we first moved here over 30 years ago there was Walter Green, Hepworth Motors, Castles, Midlothian and the Q8 station at Hinchcliffe Mill all providing fuel.

Now if you want to fill up you must travel to Honley which is very inconvenient and time consuming if you find yourself short of fuel and wishing to travel over to Manchester.

This sums up the pathetically poor facilities available to Valley residents. Holmfirth isn’t some kind of quaint village as portrayed by The Last of the Summer Wine, it’s a working town which is dying on its feet.

Although it is not within Tesco’s plan for the old Midlothian site my view is “Get on with it and incorporate a filling station”. After all there was one up there before and it didn’t cause any problems.

Move with the times or fade away and Holmfirth is fading fast.

Tim Radcliffe

Holmfirth

The way to go?

PRIVATISATION of the National Health Service has to be good for the country, just look how we all benefited from previous privatisations like the gas, electric and water industries and should any one be in any doubt. That was sarcasm.

Allen Jenkinson

Milnsbridge

Alternative thinking

IT SEEMS a wizard idea (Examiner, March 7) for self-employed life coaches to help us explore ‘the fundamental state of being’ but what if plans to become a writer, headteacher, or NHS manager lead to failure?

To think about oneself in security I recommend locking the door and opening the diary, maybe with a glass of red nearby.

TC

Huddersfield

Isn’t it obvious?

THE Minister who came up with the idea that all doctors from abroad should be fluent in speaking English to work over here, what a brilliant idea from him!

Maybe a knighthood is in the offering.

What next? Perhaps an exam for all MPs to find out who comes out on top for stating the obvious?

BACK TO SCHOOL

Almondbury