7 MARCH 1970, Page 26

Bridgwater's last chance

Sir: Mr Philip Dudley Hawkins' letter (24 February), asserts that, in the interests of democracy. the general public should always be assumed to be correct. Such an attitude is patently absurd.

It is. to all intents and purposes. an in- variable rule that the public is mistaken, or deluded, on practically every issue, either great or small. This fact is admirable illustrated by the shrewd remark. 'the minority is sometimes wrong, but the ma- jority is always wrong.'

Thus the fundamental principle, upon which the concept of democracy is based, is an egregious fallacy. and it is desirable that a government should disregard the wishes of an ignorant electorate.

Where the system goes wrong. however, is that since our rulers are elected by the ma- jority, they possess all its nefarious charac- teristics—witness Biafra.

The only solution, it seems to me. is to establish some sort of examination, whereby people's aptitude to vote, and govern, could be assessed.

David Mills Daniel The Rectory, Bangor-on-Dee, Wrexham, N. Wales