"BIGGER is better," was the cry then, as now. Present enthusiasm for Europe and the euro rather reminds me of post-war euphoria.

We nationalised the railways, road haulage, coalmines, steel production, electricity and gas. With so much under state bureaucratic control the future indeed seemed bright.

The Welfare State was not long in coming. "Complete care from the cradle to the grave," was the slogan. Free medical care, medicine, false teeth and spectacles.

This was not just for those who lived here but also for anyone who cared to visit. This infuriated our American allies who felt we were squandering their Marshall Aid so they cut it off. We were unperturbed.

Already we had contingents in the colonies clearing vast areas of jungle to plant groundnuts, that precious commodity that was going to save the world from starvation and make us wealthy beyond our wildest dreams.

Whatever happened to the accumulated wealth from these various ventures?

Anyone who lived through those times is likely to feel somewhat sceptical about Europe - unless, of course, they were themselves bureaucrats.

JOHN HINTON,

Worcester.