Beachd Ailein
There are many reasons to support Councillors Andrew Baxter and Ben Thompson in their calls for smaller local authorities (Lochaber Times 27 August): clearer democratic accountability; policies that better fit the area; flexibility and a more nimble approach to crises.
We see smaller local authorities in other countries working together to gain economies of scale in procurement and these days back-room functions could be shared with staff working from home for more than one employer. Big isn’t always better.
Over the decades I have been involved in four campaigns to upgrade the A82. Lochaber councillors have often been unanimous in pressing the Highland Council (and the Highland Regional Council before it) to back action for the A82, only to find the matter on the Roads Committee agenda with their Inverness-based colleagues voting their campaigning priority as: A9 south; A96; A9 north then the A82. The section of the A82 from Tarbet to Fort William also passes through local authorities centred in Stirling and Lochgilphead, so the few local councillors along the length have similarly struggled to gain political backing for campaigns.
By comparison, we see Argyll and Bute Council campaigning vigorously for major improvement at the A83 Rest and be Thankful. We certainly need a West Highland Council.
John C Hutchison, Fort William. editor@obantimes.co.uk
’S dòcha gun do mhothaich sibh, air an dàrna latha den t-Sultain, gun robhas a’ comharrachadh seachdad is còig bliadhna bho chaidh crìoch oifigeil air a’ chogadh le Iapan a dhaingneachadh ann an sgrìobhadh air bòrd an t-soithich-cogaidh Ameireaganach USS Missouri, ann am Bàgh Tokyo. Ged a bha an t-Ìmpire Hirohito air aithris gèillidh a chraoladh air 15 Lùnastal 1945, b’ e 2 Sultain an latha air an do chuir riochdairean bho gach dùthaich a bha an sàs an aghaidh Iapan an ainmean ris an aonta sìthe.
Bha cogadh na Roinn Eòrpa an aghaidh na Gearmailte air tighinn gu crìch air 8 an Cèitean 1945, agus bha dòchas a-nise air fois feadh an t-saoghail, airson greis co-dhiù. Thòisich a-nise tuigse air nochdadh a thaobh na brùidealachd uabhasach a dh’fhuiling na prìosanaich-cogaidh a bha an grèim, agus air an cleachdadh mar thràillean, aig na Iapanaich. Bha an dìol a rinneadh air prìosanaich leis a’ Ghearmailt agus Iapan borb da-rìribh, agus chailleadh mòran ri linn.
Eadar teaghlaichean mo phàrantan bha sianar fhear aig muir tron chogadh, còignear sa Chabhlach Mharsanta agus aon sa Chabhlach Rìoghail, agus gu fàbharach thàinig iad uile troimhe beò ged a bha iad tric glè fhaisg air an call. Cha robh coimhearsnachd air feadh na dùthcha air nach do dh’fhàg an Dàrna Cogadh
Mòr lot, agus beàrn nach gabhadh leigheas ann am beatha agus eachdraidh ginealaich. Thug a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus na h-Eileanan ìobairt shònraichte san t-seagh sin, agus sin a dh’fhàg mise cho fortanach gun do thàrr cuideachd m’ athar is mo mhàthar às a’ bhlàr.
Le maraireachd mar aon de na dreuchdan air an robh Gàidheil agus Eileanaich riamh measail dh’fhàg sin gun robh mòran dhiubh am measg nan 30,248 a chailleadh anns a’ Chabhlach Mharsanta tron a’ chogadh, agus tha cuid den bheachd nach d’ fhuair gaisge na seirbheis shìobhalta sin riamh an aithne air an robh i airidh.
Canaidh eòlaichean gu dearbh nach robh Breatann air buannachadh mura b’ e na rinn a’ Chabhlach Mharsanta. Thigeadh dhuinn a bhith moiteil às na maraichean sin uile, ged nach robh iad fhèin idir dualach cus innse mu na chunnaic is na dh’fhuiling iad!
Chunnaic mi cuideachd gur ann air 4 Sultain 1886, a ghèill an ceann-feadhna ainmeil Apache, Geronimo, ris an t-Seanalair Nelson Miles. B’ e an cron aig Geronimo gun robh e air ceann an ar-a-mach mòr mu dheireadh aig tùsanaich Ameireagaidh. Nach bu nàdarrach gum biodh iad a’ strì gus an cuid talmhainn dualach a dhìon bho mhèirlich, Ghàidhealach is eile, a bha ga ghoid bhuapa!