THE marching season is upon us once again and words will come and go as to the rights and wrongs of it all.

A small parade of two Orange bands and a church congregation made their way along Cathedral Street Glasgow to a service at the White Barony. Accompanying them were a dozen policemen, a police van, and a police car.

I am all for freedom in our society. Throughout the year many parades and events are held by sundry organisations and they all require policing. Where the Orange Lodge differ is that these little church parades are not held once a year but practically every week during this period.

Given that similar small parades take place regularly all over the land, can we really afford to tie up large numbers of police officers in such a

manner?

With the desperate financial situation that this country now finds itself in, is it not about time that the Orange Lodge was billed for the escort service provided by the police?

Edward Burns,

7 Muirpark Street,

Glasgow.

May 27.