Letters: Charity costs means only small amount hits target

If only the new code of conduct aimed at preventing charity collectors pressurising people in Princes Street was the catalyst in a charity rethink to create a better society (News, April 18).

Alas, because of the Con/Dems' austerity cuts, the voluntary sector is coming more to the fore with public services having to rely on charity. Charity is big business.

In truth, often only a small portion of donations actually reaches the front line because of administration costs, directors' ample salaries and bad investments.

Oh that we had a society where organisations like Cancer Research, Help the Aged, Save the Children and other worthwhile groups were funded through proper taxation while obscenities and expensive irrelevancies had to rely on charity.

Then charity collectors, if still inclined, could rattle their tins for Trident, unelected royals and the rest.

Jack Fraser, Clayknowes Drive, Musselburgh, East Lothian

Napoleon has a better chance

I NOTICED about a month or so ago that I was not receiving regular mail such as journals to which I subscribe.

Last week I happened to be at the offices of one of the journal publishers, and was handed an item of returned mail. It has my usual address details, and a sticker saying "Address incomplete". (I stay in a tenement of ten doors, and while my name, main door number and full postcode were present on the label, my actual apartment number was not.)

I queried this via Royal Mail customer services number and was strenuously told not only that the postie was correct to return the item for want of an apartment number, but that "You do not have a complaint".

I agreed to differ with them on this: whether the address is incomplete or not, the journal has been addressed the same way for years, and has successfully made it through my door during that time. It has my name on it, and my front door number and postcode. My name appears on the intercom of my tenement, and on my apartment door. I have lived here for 11 years.

Royal Mail told me that it is a policy matter for the Royal Mail not to deliver mail "by name". So, on a given day, an item of mail addressed to "His Imperial Majesty Napoleon Bonaparte" which has my apartment number would be delivered, whereas one that has my full name and details but lacks that tiny detail, would be returned to sender - because the postie cannot be confident it is meant for that address. This beggars sanity.

This seems like a denial of common sense and human initiative: it is literal rule following to a point of absurdity, and of course, to the consumer's detriment.

Craig Cathcart, Merchiston Grove, Edinburgh

Blame previous lot, not the SNP

BRIAN Arnold (Interactive, April 18) is wrong in trying to blame the SNP for Edinburgh's funding gap as the long standing distribution formula which determines Edinburgh's finances was legislated for by the previous Labour/Lib Dem Scottish Executive in agreement with the then Labour dominated Cosla.

John Mason was merely pointing out the facts in response to Labour's "Rip Off Glasgow" campaign which claims Glasgow gets a poor deal compared to other cities.

As regards the funding formula, the SNP has already announced that it intends to persuade Cosla to amend the current agreement which expires next year and under SNP plans this would bring extra millions into Edinburgh's coffers each year.

Andrew Rosie, MacDowall Road, Edinburgh

Get out and clear up that mess

THE council's graphic postcard for owners who don't clean up after their dogs will be no good (News, April 13). Dog owners don't care, as they go out in darkness - early mornings and evenings.

We need to have the environmental officers out and about finding the dog owners.

I live in the Sighthill/Parkhead area, and the streets and pavements are a disgrace.

Kath Beattie, Parkhead Avenue, Edinburgh