Sir, – When a box of matches was a common commodity, and life was less complicated, a box of matches contained 52 individual matches. The match company reduced the number to 48 and, when challenged, said that the tightly packed matches were a fire hazard and that it was done in the interest of safety.
Sometime later the price went up from 2p to 2½p. The match company said that they had increased the number of matches to 52.
Homebuyers have nothing to fear. They will possibly be able to get homes with postage-stamp gardens closer to what they are paying now. But no doubt they will be able to buy houses with normal gardens. They will just have to pay more to the developer. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN GILLEN,
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Dundrum,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – It’s worth remembering that gardens, of whatever size, provide not only for the wellbeing and enjoyment of their owners but also a valuable habitat for many of our natural species.
To quote Vita Sackville West, owner of Sissinghurst Gardens in Kent, “no matter how small your garden is you should always set aside at least an acre for wildflowers”. – Yours, etc,
ALISON FERGUSSON,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Another version of Haughey telling us to tighten our belts. “Tighten your greenbelt.” – Yours, etc,
GERALDINE O’DALY
Ballinasloe,
Co Galway.