IT is to be hoped that in the year 2000 the so-called "New Labour" government will start to put right the many forms of social injustice which still exist in our society.

The old age pension is still woefully inadequate while freeloaders exploiting the benefits system are living in houses which decent, hard-working people can't afford because their wages are totally inadequate.

The workshy element continues to prosper, indulge in luxuries and have children all at the taxpayers' expense.

Yet Tony Blair's priorities, as far as revision of the benefits system is concerned, are directed towards the genuinely poor and the disabled and, locally, a popular woman councillor has been de-selected by her "socialist" colleagues because of disablement and her disability to contribute to Labour party funds.

One practice which must cease is the sending of threatening "pre-eviction" notices to tenants whose rents are in arrears because of housing benefits difficulties which exist within the council.

Landlords who "welcome" DSS tenants are well aware of the council's problems, yet they continue to pressurise hapless tenants causing fear and anxiety particularly to the elderly.

This is not an attack on private landlords who are not the main culprits.

My landlord is one of the better-known class of so-called caring housing associations who appear to take one attitude that these disturbing "notices" are "standard practice" quote.

I even got a solicitor to phone both the council and my landlord regarding my housing benefit.

I met the local manager together with my social worker and the following day I received another warning from my landlord's tenancy services officers, who professed ignorance of the situation.

Just prior to Christmas yet another warning came in the post.

In my case, disgust supersedes fear. But what about the old lady who was recently petrified by such a notice? Her case was publicised.

Why can't Age Concern, the council and Burnley MP Peter Pike get together and protect poor and elderly residents from these unscrupulous practices?

Is it a case of local politics superseding humanity?

If so, New Labour can forget my vote in future and I appeal to all tenants to unite and take legal advice and action regarding "eviction notices."

TOM McGOVERN, Belgrave Court, Burnley.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.