28 NOVEMBER 1987, Page 29

Subsidised slaughter

Sir: Alexandra Artley (Letters, 21 Novem- ber) is right — ritual slaughter is primitive and repugnant. But it may be the price we have to pay for that precious thing, reli- gious liberty. Advocates should not seek refuge in dishonest rationalisations: oppo- nents should not oversimplify a complex issue.

The key question is this: should ritual slaughter be permitted for the state school meals service? Since school meals are heavily subsidised, i.e. funded by tax- and ratepayers, there is a sense in which cruelty to animals is being paid for by everyone. This is wrong. It should be stopped forthwith.

Ray Honeyford

14 Milton Road, Prestwich, Manchester