4 NOVEMBER 1978, Page 17

Spare the springs

Sir: Richard West's enjoyable account (21 October) of stinginess over the bath-water in a Pontefract boarding-house is a reminder of a favourite story of the late Sir Morris Firer, QC. When visiting Bradford for a case some years ago, a notice in his hotel room read as follows: 'Should Use be made of the Utensil at Night, do NOT replace under Bed, as Same rusts Springs — And Oblige,' Jack Waterman 38 Shepherds Hill, Highgate, London N6