It's an interesting, different, quirky park and a source of great joy, discovery and learning for preschoolers and primary age children. To lose these unique attractions would indeed be sad .

The Government invited public comment for both the railway and the water play area at the busiest time of the year for families i.e. the pre-Christmas and school holiday periods. Not many families would have had time in December or January to write submissions, much as they may have wanted to. Yet the proposed railway closure has generated a petition with a 1000 signatures and preschoolers can't write, so add another 1000 names to the petition. A lot of families care deeply about this railway and want to see it renovated, not lost for ever.

Transport & Municipal Services (TAMS) last year installed some swings as part of their improvements to Weston Park. These swings sit in a vast, open, unprotected part of the park. They cannot be used for much of the summer because the rubber seats get too hot to touch and a child in shorts gets burned legs sitting on them. There is no sun protection of any sort. If this is a taste of things to come, we should be worried.

Weston Park's three unique attractions need to be renovated and preserved for present and future generations of children not only for Canberra children but for all children who visit our unique city.

Elizabeth Chisholm, Red Hill

THE GRIFFITH Library closed. The children's railway at Weston Park is to be closed. The Deakin Pool closed this week. Somehow I don't think that a Sunday afternoon tour around our roadside art will replace them. Wake up Mr Stanhope and get your priorities right.

Freda Kemp, Higgins

Ethics from theatrics

YET ANOTHER extensive criticism, this time by Paul Daley, of Senator Steve Fielding (''Fielding theatrics win no friends'', March 22, p25).

Apparently no one loves Fielding for wanting more restrictions on booze than just a tax on alcopops. Really? I must be alone. Though one can derive the word ''ethics'' from ''theatrics'', there's no mention of ethics in Daley's latest rubbishing of Fielding.

I must have missed The Canberra Times's thoughtful piece on whether it's good for the more impressionable to have cricket, football and other major sports endorsed by booze companies, and if not, what to do about it?

But is there no sensible compromise measure achievable now? Fielding does not owe anything to Labor for its preferences last time round, as suggested by Daley. That was a pragmatic decision by Labor.

In any case, how does Daley know the motives and affiliations of all those who sent preferences to Fielding, or what they would like done about booze? It's wrong of Daley to be so dismissive of non-tax measures to curb the ugly side of alcohol which is evidenced by the recent bad behaviour of high-profile footballers.

Roy Darling, Florey

Celibacy hardly natural

CONDOMS can play a useful role in preventing conception in our overcrowded world. They also provide a barrier against the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS which plagues Africa (''Pope sends a mixed message to African women'', Editorial, March 22, p22).

The Catholic Church advocates ''natural'' methods of birth control. Celibacy is hardly ''natural'', although it is a condition for enrolment into the dwindling ranks of the Catholic clergy. A breach of this article of faith was evident a few years ago when the bishop of Cork (Ireland) impregnated a local lass and was demoted in disgrace by the Vatican to a priesthood in South America. The local newspaper headlined this fall from grace, but exonerated the bishop from the ultimate sin: ''At least he didn't wear a condom!''

Bryan Furnass, Hughes

Light rail needed

I AGREE with Professor Ken Maher, ''Risk we'll be a 'second-rate' city': Architect urges higher urban density to fulfil Griffin plan'' [Sunday Canberra Times, March 22, p12].

Canberra has already made the mistake of creating an urban sprawl that has blighted other mainland capital cities. It is now time to rectify that mistake. Importantly in his article he commented upon the 1950s British Garden Cities/ New Towns models and their reliance upon the car as the main mode of transport. Because there is no alternative such as light rail to the ACTION ''service'', the majority of Canberra residents are compelled to be dependent upon the car . This is not what Griffin intended.

Any increase in density in the Canberra central area must be considered with a reduction in the usage of cars. This could be a catalyst for constructing a light rail system to link this central area together. It can be done. A reworked version of the Federation Tramway proposal could even be used as a template.

The important premise is that unless we acknowledge that we have an issue with public transport in this city, any suggestion of a return to Griffin's vision will become meaningless.

Kevin Connor, Kaleen

Switching off

IS EARTH Hour just a form of electronic Lent?

Peter Harris, Evatt