Sir.-I refer to Miss Carreira's recent letter, "It's wrong to generalise", and to some extent sympathise with her but draw her attention to the following.

The civilisation and "wonderful lives" she refers to have taken hundreds of years and a multitude of generations striving to achieve that end.

The zenith of these efforts was about 40 years ago, and although the standard of living is deemed to have improved since then, certainly the quality of life in general has declined.

The immigration that has taken place with ever-increasing numbers over these past four decades has had a profound effect across this nation. A proportion of the immigrants have not wanted, or tried, to integrate. Some are even trying to alter our laws and impose their own.

It is inevitable that some members of the indigenous population look upon all the newcomers as surplus to requirements.

Perhaps the long-term solution for people like Miss Carreira - who, no doubt, has ambition and is industrious - is not to leave their birthplace but strive to improve the conditions in their own countries for themselves and those who follow, in the manner that our ancestors achieved.

R D Nelson,
Basingstoke.