SIR: I have kept from new a Horwich and Westhoughton Journal dated September 1969. What makes interesting reading is the almost non existent number of jobless, and the mentioning of an increase in Horwich's jobless by 14!

In the Bolton area, the jobless percentage was only two and the national average was similar. Does this not prove that life in those days was much better under Labour?

Of course this was when we manufactured most of our consumable goods. What is the sense in importing the lions share of goods which we formerly made and having so many people on the dole? Surely this must be the most stupid example of false economy.

Are we being paid too much, or are the Germans and Japanese making their goods for us for free?

B Howarth

Alexandria Drive, Westhoughton

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.