25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, December 19, 1972

MPs gasped with surprise when Agricultural Minister Mr Joseph Godber told them today that food prices had risen by 23.1 per cent between the last General Election in June, 1970, and the middle of last month. 'World shortages have caused substantial rises,' he said.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, December 19, 1947

SIR, - The Co-operative shops in Bridge-st. close at 2.30pm on Saturdays, and the Co-operative shop in Oxford-st. at 5pm. I now hear that all Co-operative shop assistants in a near-by town are arranging a one-day strike to demand Saturday afternoons off.

What would happen if private shop owners closed on Saturday afternoons? I can imagine a public outcry. And yet all shops have assistants, and they, too, have a right to demand Saturday afternoons off.

The Co-operative shops are said to be the 'workers' shops'. If so, they are not catering very much for women workers to shop on Saturday afternoons.

Yours, etc., Private Enterprise.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, December 19, 1872

ON Thursday John Wood, seven years of age, son of Mr Peter Henry Wood, of Hampden-terrace, Prestwich, died from effects of hydrophobia. Whilst walking along the road towards Kersall Moor toll bar, in company with his mother, on the 6th ult., a small white curly-haired terrier sprang at him and bit him twice on the right thumb. He was immediately taken into the toll-bar house, and the wounds were well fomented. One of the wounds subsequently healed, but the other did not do so. On Sunday last the lad complained of a severe pain in his thumb, which extended along the arm to the shoulder. The lad was placed in as many as half a dozen vapour baths each day, and soothing medicine was given to him. When seized with the paroxysm, the lad frequently grasped at those surrounding his bed and barked like a dog. He suffered severely during the early stages of the malady, but died in a very calm and peaceful manner.

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