25 YEARS AGO

BOLTON is to get up to 250 new office jobs, it was announced today. The Prescription Pricing Authority of the Health Service is moving into town. It will take over the former Norweb building in St George's Road.

UNEMPLOYMENT has fallen for the second month in succession, but still leaves a total out of work of 1,281,117. It is 436,092 higher than April last year, and new Employment Secretary Albert Booth said the figures were of "serious concern".

CHANGES in the sex equality laws mean that women can take part in almost all the races in Saturday's Holcombe Hunt. It will be the first time in the event's 50 years that women can enter in more than just the women-only race.

50 YEARS AGO

THE season for furs is by no means over. Now is the time to think about storing them, moth-proofing them, above all, remodelling them in readiness for next year, or for those summer occasions when a decorative fur is cosy and very attractive. Furs are as precious as heirlooms, and, like jewellery, they retain a basic value. So watch them carefully.

WORK will start almost immediately on the transfer of the Bolton plant for dealing with kitchen waste from its present site at Wellington Yard to Raikes-lane. It was hoped that the waste could be taken to Wigan to be dealt with, but the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries stepped in and vetoed the move.

125 YEARS AGO

YESTERDAY, the colliers in the employ of Messrs. Thos. Fletcher and Son, at Stopes, Bents and Bradley Fold collieries, to the number of 300 men and boys, struck work against the reduction of 30 per cent in their wages. They were willing to accept a reduction of 15 per cent, but the employers refused to make the concession. About 300 of the colliers employed by the Darcy Lever Coal Company have also struck work, not only against the reduction of 30 per cent, but also against a notice that has been issued to the effect that measures of coal to 4 cwt. will be taken off the tubs for dirt sent along with the coal. The men say the exaction will cause a tub of coal to be got for 1s. Neither of the strikes, it is needless to say, are sanctioned by the Miners' Union.

OUR readers will observe from an advertisement in another column that the dispute at Messrs Whittaker and Son's Shipton Mill is at last terminated. The operatives lately in the employ of the firm have expressed their regret that at the outbreak of the dispute, June, 1875, they ceased to do certain work without giving notice. Messrs Whittaker express their perfect satisfaction with the arrangements now agreed upon, and state that they will employ the old hands as they require them.