14 FEBRUARY 1998, Page 23

The comfort of Oz

Sir: Michael Kaufman (Letters, 7 February) holds the romantic view of his country: `Australia has a small population which needs to be on constant alert in a very harsh environment.' Australia (like Cana- da) is half-a-dozen cities, all designed for comfort and safety. No hardship is in sight. Pleasure-loving Australians — virtually the entire nation — would not recognise a harsh environment even if they knew where to look for it.

Ralph Berry

47 Tiddington Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire