I AM puzzled at the outrage by members of the organisation 'Women Against State pension Inequality' (Gazette, February 28, 'This is simply the last straw').

When I started work in 1965, I asked my boss and subsequently a couple of other people of reasonable intelligence the question - why are men expected to work until age 65 where as women can retire at age 60?

The general response was a blank stare, a shrug of the shoulders and a simple reply 'That's just the way it is', which was hardly a satisfactory answer.

So I just got on with my working life without a whimper of protest.

We are all living longer and an alignment and gradual increase in working life seems a logical answer.

I am not a male chauvinist as this retirement age increase affects both my wife and ex-wife.

Or am I missing something?

Do women pay a lower National Insurance Stamp? I don't think so.

Women live longer as well.

Roy Hackney

Natland