In your report on the first meeting of the new look Yass Valley Council you mentioned the various ceremonies that accompanied its orderly transition into its new term of office.

I think that it was very important that an Aboriginal welcome was given by Ngunnawal Elder, Eric Bell, as we should be reminded about our community's - and our Nation's - historical roots.

Your report mentioned that some of the non-elected of the 23 candidates who had stood for Council came along "to observe the new council in action" and I was pleased to be among them. I was very impressed by the orderly way in which Council business was handled and the very professional way in which it dealt with matters before it.

I was also very impressed by the use of the technology that was so expertly employed at this meeting and, though I'm sure that I won't agree with all the decisions which the Council will make during its term, there is no doubt about the working machinery for good government being in place.

It was interesting, too, that in the most recent 'Q and A' program on the ABC, the newly elected Leader of the Opposition, Malcolm Turnbull, deplored the appalling standards of behaviour of members of the House of Representatives. Good and constructive debate is sacrificed in the petty business of individual sniping and point scoring between the parties.

The Federal Government - and the State for that matter, as well - could well take a leaf out of the methods that were so obviously well in place - and working - in our Council.

Brian Millett

Yass

PS. I'm at a loss to understand why David Barnett chose in his 'This Week' column to frequently use a capital 'B' on 'Black' when discussing Barack Obama, the Democrats' nominee for the US Presidential elections in November. Surely all that matters is that Mr Obama is an American - and his colour is just not relevant.