25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, April 28, 1972

THE Prime Minister had decided to fight a war against the trade unions, Mr Anthony Wedgwood Benn, chairman of the Labour Party, said today. He declared that Mr Heath had forced the Industrial Relations Act through Parliament, and was now using it ruthlessly against working people who tried to defend their working standards. Without a trade union, the average family could not compensate for rising prices and rising rents which the Government were imposing.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, April 30, 1947

IN the town-centre tobacconist's shop on Saturday was a fox-terrier puppy with a notice which read: 'The first customer to purchase 200 cigarettes gets me as a free prize'. The novelty attracted many shoppers and curious children, but just as the crowd was at its thickest a hand appeared in the window and the dog vanished. Then a middle-aged woman left the shop with a small parcel under one arm and the 'prize' under another.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, April 29, 1872

WE hear from Liverpool that the postmen in that town have at last some ground for congratulating themselves upon shortly receiving an improved scale of pay, owing in a great measure to the exertions made on their behalf by Mr Graves, MP. The Bolton postmen, on the 15th of the present month, sent up a memorial to the Postmaster General, praying for an increased scale of pay. Their present miserable pittance - commencing with 16s a week, with an increase (!) of sixpence a year up to 20s - must ensure for them the cordial sympathy of the public in their demands, which are reasonable, via., to commence with 20s weekly, and an advance of 1s yearly up to 25s. The postmen generally are sober, intelligent, civil, and honest, and are justly entitled to improved remuneration. Perhaps our borough members will take a hint from the conduct of Mr Graves.

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