Letter: Of lions, foxes and men

Sir: I can't agree with Glen Newey when he says that the most compelling argument against fox-hunting is its lamentable inefficiency. Sometimes inefficiency is good.

God help the fox if we use modern, efficient methods on it. In 1949 alone, the Ministry of Agriculture sold 175,000lbs of subsidised cyanide to farmers and landowners for gassing foxes, badgers and rabbits before that solution was discontinued.

Hunting is just efficient enough to keep foxes controlled but still in the picture. What's more, it's conspicuous (even from the air) and therefore controllable. That's how Glen Newey's "oafs in pink" want it, and that's how I want it, because I rather like having foxes around.

NIGEL BURKE

London SE13