The Editor, Sir:

Give parish councils full or 90 per cent autonomy, let them collect all taxes and give a percentage to central government. Elect mayors as we would Members of Parliament.

Introduce the draft for school leavers, let them make building blocks and work in tandem with the NHT to build cheaper housing. Let the people who live on captured lands or in garrisons join in the construction so that in effect they build back their own homes, pay for them with construction wages. Move them into the newly- constructed apartments and demolish their houses on the captured lands. The newly-reclaimed lands can be resold and the cycle can continue.

I am, etc.,

S. SMITH