Friday, April 15, 2005

100 years ago: A justice of the peace said at York Police Court that begging was becoming "a perfect nuisance in York", something a columnist agreed with, saying that if his example was followed of sending the delinquents for 14 days' incarceration in Wakefield Gaol, it would soon be put an end to. Residents in the outlying portions of the city were particularly subject to the annoyance of sturdy, able-bodied men going from house to house soliciting alms. If there was no man in the house at the time these unwelcome visitors made their calls the female inmates were often greatly frightened, for the mendicants, if they were refused help, were not particular in the choice of their epithets.

50 years ago: A letter from Disgusted sympathised with a previous letter from Aggrieved, drawing attention to their treatment on the local buses. In both cases, they had got on a service bus carrying a funereal wreath, and in the case of the first writer, he was charged extra for doing so, which had caused him a great deal of distress. The second writer had a similar experience two years previously, except that he wasn't asked for a "fare" for his wreath when he got on the bus. An official from the bus company had boarded the bus a stop or two later, and after he dismounted, the conductress informed the letter writer that she had been questioned as to whether she had charged for the wreath, which the official described as a "borderline case". The decision as to whether a charge must be levied was made on the grounds of what was classed as personal, as personal belongings travelled free, but as Disgusted pointed out: "Surely a wreath is personal and is used for one purpose only?"

25 years ago: Members of Hambleton District Council were to view the controversial film Life of Brian before deciding whether to allow it to be shown in the district's one cinema. A councillor said: "We have a moral duty in this matter. I have heard disturbing views about the film." Another councillor agreed that it ought to be seen by members, but added: "lots of people here have never been to the cinema since Charlie Chaplin made The Kid." It would be the first time the authority had exercised its powers to view a film before allowing it to be shown publicly.

Updated: 09:08 Friday, April 15, 2005