It is great news that local entrepreneurs are finding success with the baby buggy rocking device (March 28).

However, what a shame to hear that this area is not to benefit from the device's production, because the firm has decided to outsource the work to Hungary.

At the risk of a ticking-off from my friends from Budapest, I feel the newspaper which has done so much to publicise York's status as a "fair trade city", and to criticise the loss of local jobs, should have questioned this decision.

Of course, most items can be made cheaper in these countries, but this is usually achieved not only by paying lower wages, but the standards of safety and the general working conditions in their factories usually

fall far below what we would consider right if our own loved ones were employed there.

Requirements regarding pollution and other environmental damage are also lower, and often ignored, resulting in a cheaper, but ethically unsound product.

Maybe there is still time to reconsider this decision and bring the benefits of this great little device's success to our area.

Andy Scaife,

Suffolk House,

Lowther Terrace,

York.

Updated: 10:16 Thursday, March 31, 2005