Dear SIR, The statement attributed to Mr. Arthur Hodgson in today's Royal Gazette , "A person paying tax does not ask this question (where is the money going?) and `it is a stupid question','' needs to be commented upon.

You may not ask that question, Mr. Hodgson, but there are a lot of people in the community who are asking such questions. Government is answerable to the people and while no-one wants to pay taxes, one realises that money has to be found to operate the Country.

If you know the answer, then the question is not asked, but when we do not know the answer, then no question is "stupid''. Therefore may I repeat the question, "Where is the taxpayer's money going?'' An answer would be appreciated.

ANTHONY SIESE City of Hamilton PLP shows arrogance July 17, 1999 Dear SIR, I refer to the article in your paper dated July 17, 1999 headed: "UBP blasts increase in land taxes.'' I cannot believe the arrogance from our new PLP Government when asked in session what they planned to spend the additional $7 million raised from the increase in land taxes on, the replies were as follows: a) Attorney General Lois Browne-Evans: "See if you can guess.'' b) Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson: "A person paying taxes does not ask this question and it is a stupid question''.

c) Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown: "We are working on a wonderful plan for the Country.'' Well, I am a taxpayer and I, along with others, cannot guess but have a right to know and want to know, what the $7 million will be spent on.

TAXPAYER Paget Headlines are silly July 15, 1999 Dear SIR, I only have one thing to say -- the writers at your newspaper need to attend headline school. They use silly, attention-grabbing headlines that are more suitable for a sleazy tabloid publication than a respected newspaper. After the A&E documentary about Bermuda and the Rebecca Middleton trial, the headline read: Documentary Slammed as Superficial. Just exactly how does one slam something as superficial? MORE PROFESSIONALISM PLEASE! City of Hamilton Publish accident photos July 16, 1999 Dear SIR, I am writing in response to a letter that was published on your page yesterday. The letter expressed shock and concern over the printing of photographs in The Royal Gazette of the accident scene at the recent road tragedy in Spanish Point.

My opinion is this. I think it is right to show such photographs because that is reality, that really happened. Death on Bermuda's roads happens. And perhaps if the truth hurts and shocks a reader enough when they see it in the newspaper they will think twice about how they behave on the road.

Our human bodies are fragile. I work at King Edward VII Hospital and the day after a road accident, when I walk into intensive care I see a broken body lying there -- on a breathing machine, unrecognisable in their brokenness with tubes and lines and collar and splints everywhere. That is reality, that is what can happen to a human being. We are not indestructible.

Unfortunately, perhaps some of us need to be shocked into changing our road habits through seeing reality on the front page of our newspapers.

I would like to say that I do not mean to upset or hurt anyone by writing this letter -- I just want all of us to realise that the distance between life, brokenness and death is very, very small.

ANONYMOUS Paget Save the Cedar tree July 15, 1999 Dear SIR, As a resident of Spanish Point for 20 years and married to someone who grew up in Spanish Point, I am writing to defend the cedar tree which the two young men struck in last weekend's horrific accident. This tree has been growing there for many, many years.

Yes, there have been a few deaths from drivers hitting it, but almost all of them were not doing the speed limit. For the gentlemen who lives nearby who said the street light is hidden by the tree, this is so when one drives out of Point. When one drives into Point it is not hidden and contrary to what the gentleman said the road does not appear to go straight. If a person is driving the speed limit they are able to see that this road has a sharp corner and must be negotiated carefully. If we all drive carefully and not like "bats-out-of-h---'' there would be very few deaths on our roads. Last weekend's loss would not have occurred.

To Government, do not cut down that tree because a few drivers choose to go excessively fast and usually end up causing their own accidents. If the tree was not there these people would have hit the wall behind it and had the same outcome. Slow down Bermuda! To the families of the two young men killed last weekend, you have my sincere condolences.

SAVE THE TREE! Pembroke Stopping the speeders July 14, 1999 Dear SIR, To the rider of bike number AM 595, on Wednesday July 14 (Go Slow Day) at 11.15 a.m. you rode by Saltus School, passed two vehicles which had stopped at the red light, and blatantly went straight through the same red light, and proceeded up Cedar Avenue, looking behind you to see if anyone was paying any attention to you.

It's people like you who are the causes of most of the problems on our roads, but maybe we will get the chance someday to read about you on the front page of the newspaper. If you are lucky, the Police will stop you for some offence or other, and take you off the road.

I know that this sort of thing is happening all over the Island, but at these lights near Saltus, I see it happening at least three times a week, and I only pass that way twice a day, so it must be going on constantly. On the subject of speed, I think the sensible thing to do, would be to make the speed limit 25 mph (40 kph) and a leeway up to 28 mph and anything over that, you can expect a fine, or worse for repeat offenders. The point system is a good idea, but it's no good if it is not enforced.

SEEING IT AS IT IS Pembroke Shocked by new ARVs July 19, 1999 Dear SIR, I have just looked up the new ARVs for the several rental units I own. I was fearing that they would be subject to rent control as they are not big.

However I discovered that the monthly rents the Government now considers fair are up to twice as much as I am now charging.

Naturally next time a lease expires I shall be putting the rents up to their correct rates.

So as not to frighten my poor tenants prematurely, I shall remain... ANONYMOUS Pembroke Control the vendors July 15, 1999 Dear SIR, Perhaps the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Parks Department could clarify the position of vendors that are proliferating along the South Shore.

Beginning at Barnes Corner, there are now stools and tables on the grass at the refreshment stand. Weekends bring out the clothes lines for displaying items of fashion.

Further around the corner at the previously uncommercialised and once tranquil Church Bay, there is the ugly sign on the road listing the goods for sale on the beach. Objectors to the enterprise at Church Bay were informed earlier this year that the sign would not be allowed. The sign is still there.

Opposite Warwick Long Bay, a snowball stall perches on the grass. Only a few yards down the road one can hardly miss the purple lunch wagon as it is surrounded by pink plastic flamingos.

Continue on down to Mermaid Beach and find the next refreshment stall facing a myriad of "For Sale'' signs. The next stop might be the wooden refreshment shack, with its flapping flags, that has been erected opposite Warwick Gas Station.

It would not even be accurate to say that the South Shore now resembles a Third World country. Many Third World countries I have visited established strict rules long ago for hawkers and vendors in order to protect their most scenic areas.

CITIZEN OF THE `NEW BERMUDA' Southampton Questions about prison July 16, 1999 Dear SIR, A born Bermudian, I have returned to the Island on a summer visit. I was horrified to read in your paper, an article about the 19-year-old British inmate who claimed she was raped by officers at the Co-ed Facility.

The questions immediately arise that if she had only claimed she was raped with insufficient evidence, then why was she repatriated to her home country? With DNA testing which could prove fairly immediately the authenticity of these claims, why is there a lack of evidence? How was this case handled right from the outset? There are so many issues that seem to be brushed under the carpet, not the least of which is the issue of having the alleged rapists allowed back on the job in an environment that clearly does not provide adequate protection of its inmates.

There is so much violence already in our society. Condoning potential rapists in the prison service is one sure way to turn up the volume. The silence around this case is cause for concern.

TURNING A BLIND EYE Pembroke