THE Prime Minister this evening announced moves to save a further 20 per cent of electricity because of the energy crisis. Domestic consumers are being asked to restrict the use of electricity for space heating to one room only in the home. From next Monday continuous industrial process users will be limited to 65 per cent of their normal consumption each week. For other industrial and commercial premises, electricity can only be used on five days during the two weeks ending December 30. After December 30, only three days a week will be allowed for the use of electric power.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, December 14, 1948

SIR,- Your very moderate leader touching on the rapacity of the dentists under the new scheme makes one wonder from which fairyland the Spens Committee derives the idea that a reasonable return for a dentist is around £4,800 a year of 46 weeks, with 30 chairside hours per week.

The Dental Association casually state that half of this sum goes in expenses, leaving a mere £2,400, or close on 35s per hour net. I think they would have difficulty proving that a quarter of the gross sum goes in costs, but that is detail. As there are around 9,000 dentists, our teeth are going to cost the country around £45,000,000 per annum. Are they really worth it?

It seems to me that the Government would be better employed in finding us something on which to exercise our teeth in the way or more meat, bacon, etc. Yours, Disgusted.

From the Evening News, December 13, 1873

THE furnishing of the Reception Room at the Town Hall is now complete, and is on a scale of magnificence worthy of so noble a building, and, what is equally as forceable, worthy of the elegant and sumptuous apartment which it is intended to grace. Indeed, so delicately beautiful are both texture and colour that, unless in the event of another Royal Visit - a contingency so remote that its probability is not worth considering - the furniture is too brilliant to be useful. The furniture consist of eight single and two arm chairs, six settees, three tables, four corner cabinets, and a long window bench, all en suite and designed in accordance with the building.

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