Why teach them the game then slam the door?

Sir, – Dr John Cameron’s take on the matter of women at the R and A makes interesting reading (Letters, August 28). His message is that the R and A will abandon discrimination only if directly forced to by unequivocal law.

The R and A is an august and uniquely respected world organisation whose rules and etiquette of golf are based on a philosophy of respect and on fairness. Yet it deliberately excludes half the human race from its iconic institution on the grounds of . . . what, exactly? Nineteenth century chauvinism?

It is paradoxical to promote the teaching of golf to young women to encourage them into this wonderful game and then to slam the door on them when they become accomplished.

Eventually, the R and A will be forced to toe the UK equality line – for this matter will not go away. But how much better to be welcomingly and magnanimously abreast of the social development curve (much too late to be ahead!) than to be an obstinate Canutian reactionary? Bill Dewar. 16 Dalrymple Street, Dundee. regularly, when in office, praising Dundee and all of Labour’s works in it? Now though, they have an “action plan” to cure Dundee’s ills, particularly unemployment. An Action Man would be more use than the Labour group and their much-too-late, suggestions.

They needn’t worry about unemployment though. Gordon Brown announced last week that staying in the union guarantees Scots their unemployment benefit. It is heartening to know that our interests are being looked after by ambitious, imaginative, far-sighted people such as these.

Labour had decades to sort out this country’s problems, but only achieved, as BBC’s Isobel Fraser remarked, “managed decline”. The sound of Labour’s squealing is reminiscent of pigs fearing their snouts will be hauled out of the trough. Ken Clark. 335 King Street, Broughty Ferry.