29 DECEMBER 1973, Page 5

Sir: Dr Linklater . 's sad tale of the Goatley family (December

1) is only the epitome of the demoralisation of the British people by welfare gone mad.

The general loss of self-reliance and personal pride consequent upon the post-war enthusiasm for welfare was already evident as early as 1955. It has been a notable factor in driving medical men and women, unwilling to be a party to the character destruction of their patients, to seek alternative and more useful careers outside the country.

It would be nice to think that there was an easy road back to some sort of normality, but I fear that the system is now too well established to be dismembered without gross • social upheaval. J. L. Insley PO Box 61217, Marshalltown, Transvaal.