Killing of dolphins

Press, 27 March 1980, Page 20

Killing of dolphins

Sir, — Margaret Mayer (March .25) seems to have missed the point of my letter of March 22. The dolphin is undoubtedly a rather special animal by human standards. This is because it is aesthetically attractive to humans by its appearance and its nature. To claim that the mass killing of any creature is repugnant to any human worthy of the name is naive to say the least. We slaughter fish, sheep, cattle, etc., by the countless millions for sporting purposes and to, feed ourselves- We have no compunction in exterminating creatures such as flies, rats, cockroaches or garden pests which are unacceptable to our lifestyle. I wonder again how much fuss would be made internationally if it was sharks that were interfering with the Japanese fishing grounds and were being slaughtered. — Yours, etc., J. C- O’MALLEY. March 25, 1980.

Use of coffins Sir, — While not. professing to know the details of funeral arrangements, I should like to ask why ’the same coffin canno’t normally be used repeatedly for cremations- In this country one does not view the actual cre-< mation. Surely many people, if given the choice, would have no inhibitions? Presumably in many countries a shortage of wood already precludes the use of a coffin at all.-—Yours, etc., C. J. BENT. March 14, 1980. [Mr C. J. H. Blackie, secretary, Funeral Directors’ Association, replies: “The use of the same coffin over and over again would contravene the regulations under the Health and Burial Act. It would also be quite unacceptable to either of the local crematoriums on both hygiene and ethical grounds and unacceptable to the public. As to conservation of timber there are very few solid (timber coffins used today. They are mainly veneered particle board so that the conservation of timber is already. ’ being taken care of.”]