LETTERS TO THE EDITOR .sx Subways Preferred to Baths .sx Sir,- Your correspondent S. Armitage quotes a figure of nearly 5,000 people drowned in and around Britain in 1960 .sx I know nothing of the accuracy of these figures , although Saturday's " Echo " mentions a figure of 4,000 every year .sx The point I wish to make is that all these casualties did not occur among the non-swimming members of our population .sx In fact , I venture to suggest it is probable that the greater proportion of these unfortunate people could swim and in fact might not have been drowned had they been non-swimmers .sx It is so often the swimmer that ventures out , gets into difficulties and is rescued , if there is time .sx Non-swimmers are content to paddle , sun-bathe and splash about generally at the seaside and very rarely I think enter rivers .sx I do not believe that a sufficiency of baths throughout Britain would make the slightest difference to the numbers that flock to our rivers and coasts during the summer months .sx It would be an excellent thing if everyone could swim it is true , but not everyone has either the desire or inclination to do so .sx Then again so many people much prefer the sea or river to the baths .sx Having learned to swim in the sea , I am one of the latter , much preferring the fresh sea breeze to the heavy chlorinated odour of the municipal swimming bath .sx If the Council wish to spend our money and gain the thanks of everyone , by benefiting everyone as they should , then let them set about providing the town with the much-needed safe road crossings we so urgently require :sx these could be subways and so would allow a smooth flow of traffic on our main thoroughfares .sx One in the Prom .sx would be sufficient to solve that immediate problem , and I would suggest two for the High-street .sx This would be of real benefit to motorist and pedestrian , and not least for the elderly .sx It is astonishing that we should have one subway already at Pittville Park- how much more useful it would be under the High-street !sx But no doubt it has saved some child's life being where it is .sx In the interim period let us have pedestrian crossings with automatic light signals giving " cross now " instruction .sx D. C. WRIDE .sx Prestbury-road , Cheltenham .sx Spurs and the " Double " .sx Sir,- With only a few weeks of the present soccer season left chief interest in sporting circles is , can Tottenham Hotspurs , undoubtedly the best team in Great Britain today , pull off the League and Cup " Double , " last performed in 1897 by those famous Cup fighters Aston Villa , and eight years previously in 1889 by Preston North End ?sx With regard to the League title the 'Spurs appear to be in an almost unassailable position ; in fact it will be the surprise of the century , if they fail to finish on top .sx The only possible danger comes from Sheffield Wednesday .sx Regarding the Cup , there must be great excitement going on at Roker Park where next Saturday Tottenham and Sunderland will fight it out in the semi-final .sx 'Spurs have an extremely tough task here .sx In conclusion , it is interesting to note that Sheffield Utd .sx and Sunderland , both Second Division , also have possible " Double " chances .sx BERT WILLIAMS , 5 , Albany-road , Tivoli , Cheltenham .sx Chain Letter Hoax .sx Sir,- It has been brought to my attention yet again that there are numerous chain letters in circulation in Cheltenham purporting to have the support of the National Savings Movement and a well-known national bank .sx I would like to inform your readers , through your columns , that these chain letters are illegal and are , in fact , a complete hoax .sx They do not have the backing of either the National Savings Movement or the national bank which is purported to be trustee for the funds .sx I suggest that the best way of breaking the chain is simply to destroy the letter when it is received .sx J. C. NICHOLLS , Hon .sx Secretary , Local National Savings Committee , Manager , Trustee Savings Bank .sx Tribute to the Late J. W. O. Pope .sx Sir,- As a writer of tributes to departed good people of this town , I think our Press has paid a great and moving tribute to this " tireless citizen .sx " All I can say is that Norwich lost a great man of Socialist principles in the name of Keir-Hardie ; Glasgow in the name of Jimmy Maxton ; and now Cheltenham has lost a good man with these same principles .sx F. G. SHORT ( late Secretary I.L. Party ) , 7 , Bath-parade , Cheltenham .sx LETTERS TO THE EDITOR .sx People Want What Is Reasonable .sx Sir,- As a member of the " spoon-fed generation " who regularly reads your letters , I have often been tempted to write in reply to some of the ridiculous complaints that are voiced in your columns .sx After reading " Free Trader's " latest example , I could refrain no longer .sx If one follows his argument that only swimmers should pay for a new swimming bath , surely only readers should pay for a library , only walkers for a park , and only music-lovers for a Town Hall .sx What the swimmers are asking for is not a free service , as they are quite prepared to meet its annual cost by paying a reasonable entrance fee , but somewhere where they have good facilities for enjoying themselves and for teaching their children to swim ( as , despite " Free Trader's " statement that " only swimmers and learners " drown , children have been known to fall in the water) .sx Even if he is wealthy enough not to require any public forms of entertainment or amusement , surely he cannot begrudge them to people less fortunate than himself .sx Surely we have only a little while to wait before he suggests that old people should save enough to retire on without needing pensions , and Mrs. O'Gorman decides it would be better to do away with the Council altogether and let her run Cheltenham .sx SPOON-FED .sx Deterring Rates .sx Sir,- The statement that 5,000 deaths ( since amended to 4,000 ) in and around Britain in 1960 were due to drowning rather fails as an argument for a new super swimming bath when it is estimated that more than half of these people could already swim .sx No one wanting to learn to swim in Cheltenham is prevented .sx I hear that there are ten swimming baths in the town , the two municipally-owned ones losing money in the running .sx Other towns seem to manage to build baths reasonably , e.g. Worcester +30,000 , Norwich +130,000 .sx Why does Cheltenham need +230,000 , when there is no hope of running it , except at heavy loss ?sx With the heavy expenditure on new rating , plus a new street costing +1,000,000 , the cost of the Pump Room , new Municipal Offices , and so on , the eventual rates are likely to deter people from coming to live in the town , as they would probably be influenced more by excessively high rates than by the fact that there was a luxury swimming bath for use in winter .sx Alderman Lipson observed that the Council is apt to recommend new projects without counting the cost .sx We are entitled to doubt the assertion that it is not practicable to cover and heat the Sandford Bath .sx Has this really been investigated by impartial experts ?sx RATEPAYER .sx Fox's Instinct .sx Sir,- I can tell Mrs. Shill why the fox " flees the hounds " when it does not " fear the " .sx The answer lies in instinct .sx A fox is cunning , whether hunting or being hunted , but when pushed out into the open , being a wild animal it naturally seeks refuge in flight .sx A fox is only afraid when death seems imminent .sx The English foxhound has made , and still is making , its mark in all five continents , while beagling becomes increasingly popular , especially in the U.S.A. NATURE-LOVER .sx Mondays for Shop Workers .sx Sir,- It is all very well for " Canuck " to suggest that there is no need for closing days at all for shops .sx Apart from the inconvenience of haphazard half-days , has he considered the extra staff required to work this system and maintain efficient service , the small trader being the worst affected ?sx Saturday afternoon or all day Wednesday closing has been suggested .sx This is not the complete answer .sx Saturdays for industrial workers and civil servants .sx Why not Mondays for shop-workers ?sx FLATFEET .sx LETTERS TO THE EDITOR .sx Land-workers Want Fair Deal .sx Sir,- Landworkers' wages and conditions should be better , especially the minimum wage , which should be in the +10 10s .sx region .sx Quite a lot of the workers get about the minimum wage , which is +8 9s .sx a week , with no overtime allowed .sx This does not leave much to live on after insurance , tax , rent and so on have been paid .sx There are no canteen facilities , no free or helped-by-cash transport , and the landworker is out in all winds and weathers .sx Why should the landworker be the Cinderella of jobs ?sx Conditions for factory workers and other trades have greatly improved , so why not for the landworker ?sx Let us see the landworkers' minimum wage and that of all low paid workers more in the region of +10 10s .sx , bringing them more in line with industrial wages .sx Why should not +10 10s .sx go tax-free and have 1s .sx prescriptions , and the same for widows and pensioners ?sx I have heard it said by younger men who have left the land that if the landworker's wage was +10 10s .sx a week they would return to the land .sx So let us see them get a fair and square deal .sx They deserve it .sx LANDWORKER'S WIFE .sx Glos .sx Montpellier Caryatides .sx Sir,- I have lived practically all my life in Cheltenham , but not until recently did I discover that the Caryatides of Montpellier-walk- the " Armless " - were not all cast in the same mould !sx Most , indeed , are identical , but several have a marked essential difference from the rest ; I wonder if other readers are aware of the nature of this discrepancy ?sx I may add that my attention was drawn to the above by a friend who hoped to make an easy shilling by offering to bet on it ; he was quite right .sx COEUR DE LION .sx Devotion to Patients .sx Sir,- My wife was recently admitted to St. Paul's Hospital , for an operation of a serious nature , which was carried out with confidence and extreme skill , to a successful conclusion , and ultimate discharge .sx In the painstaking care , attention , and devotion to their patients , the sisters and nurses were truly wonderful , and did much to relieve any fears and also assist in every way possible to speed complete recovery .sx During visits to my wife , I was able to note the human and personal relationship between nurses and patient ; and this , developing into a close understanding , materially assists the ailing and sick along the road to recovery .sx It is a pity these kindly people , with their quiet , unassuming understanding and professional experience , are not more appreciated , for without these qualities we are indeed lost .sx May the surgeons ever be directed by divine skill in their operations , and the sisters and nurses retain their refreshing charm and efficiency under the continual strain and shortage of these splendid people .sx C. N. BROOKS , 6 MILTON-ROAD , ST. MARK'S .sx " Policy of Masterly Inactivity " .sx Sir,- Might I respectfully suggest to the Town Council that , irrespective of the outcome of the public inquiry now proceeding on the Development Plan , unless they can come up with some scheme to relieve the appalling traffic congestion , they should adopt a policy of masterly inactivity .sx In other words , they should carry on as they have been doing for the last 10 years until some bright spark among them ( we hope ) can think up something useful .sx Otherwise there can be no possible excuse for further spending of ratepayers' hard-earned money .sx J. A. WHITAKER .sx Alveston House , St. Annes-road , Cheltenham .sx N.H. Festival Record Likely .sx Sir,- As the National Hunt Festival meeting approaches , it is only natural that the sporting public hope that there will be no change in the unusual mild weather .sx It is hoped that any late sudden snap will stay away sufficiently long enough for the three-day popular Festival .sx If the spring-like weather continues a new record is likely to be set up for attendances .sx