S112,—May I support F. Le Gros Clark's plea for newly
retired people to be recruited to help those older and less active. It is, however, only fair to say that many 'retired' people able and willing to do so are already active in this way. A visit to a training course for volunteers makes this obvious (some such courses do take place and finance and facilities exist for others, given local initiative).
The contribution of the elderly is in fact apparent in church life, local authority work and in com- munity work generally.
This is, of course, voluntary service, and Mr. Le Gros Clark wants payment for services rendered. Some opportunities exist for this, and a few volun- tary bodies have job-finding schemes.
Could employment exchanges not do more here? And is it quite impossible for museums and art galleries to keep open in the evenings, staffed with competent people?
MARJORIE BUCKE, Secretary The National Old People's Welfare Council, 26 Bedford Square, WCI
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