5 MAY 1950, Page 18

The Covenanters

SIR,—AS an Englishman who had the good fortune to spend more than 21 years of his working life in Scotland, I have been distressed by the attitude which you have adopted towards the Scottish Covenant. I hope that the editorial paragraph in your issue of April 28th indicates the beginning of a change of heart. Sneers at the Covenanters will do nothing to improve relations between England and Scotland. Granting of their demands will, I believe. greatly increase the stock of good-will towards England in Scotland.

Perhaps you are not aware that in domestic legislation Scotland has, through no fault of her own, in some respects lagged behind England. Take the public library field as an example. Scottish municipal authorities do not possess the same powers as their English counterparts to spend money, to co-operate with one another or to amalgamate. The necessary amending legislation, which is not opposed by members of any political party, is not introduced into the Parliament at Westminster because it has no time to deal with it. If a Scottish Parliament were set up, this anomaly, and many others, would no doubt be swept away