I feel that I must reply to the letter from Sid Walker (SA, March 10) who seems to think that I have lost the plot in my defending of gadgets.

I do not believe that we can blame the person who invented the wheel for the drug and violence-related problems we face in today's society and as for prayer and meditation to regain health and find peace, I don't think that it is I who has lost the plot.

What is needed in this country is more respect and discipline. The worst thing that happened in this country was the ending of National Service.

As we have greater integration with Europe then let us do the same as Europe and have a return to two years' National Service, as in Germany and Holland for example. The time I served in the Royal Air Force around the world, were the best years of my life and if it hadn't been for the Wright Brothers inventing the aeroplane, we would not have had an air force - no aeroplanes you see. So that is one gadget I am happy to have been invented.

I can send this letter now and it will be delivered within two seconds by email, this new technology will send me a receipt when delivered but one more step, it will also tell me when the letter has been read. You don't get that with Royal Mail. It also does not cost me anywhere near as much to send as it would do using snail mail. So give me my gadgets and technology any day.

I think that if you also read the letter from Les Fox, his last sentence states and I quote.. "Of course I realise it's too late to alter modern living. And having said all this, I, for one, like my TV, electric gadgetry and modern, soft lifestyle". So perhaps Les has also lost the plot.

J Forster-Heatlie.

Thorney Park.

Wroughton