Tuesday, September 6, 2005

100 years ago

The York Equitable Industrial Society Limited, opened its 16th grocery and provision branch Co-operative shop at the corner of Lawrence Street and James Street, which was attended by over 600 people. The President stated that at the beginning of 1893, when he joined the directorate, the Society's business was carried on at Market Street, with branches at Holgate, Groves, Leeman Road, and a coal depot at Peasholme Green. The membership then was 2,193, sales £39,719, dividend £3,979 and a capital of £6,314, or an average of less than £3 per member. Contrast that with the present magnificent buildings of the Society in Railway Street and Clementhorpe, and the sixteen branch grocery and twelve branch butchers' shops in the city and neighbourhood, and a membership of 9,200, sales for the previous year of £209,609, dividend £23,343, capital £87,176, or an average of over £9 per member.

50 years ago

Yorkshire's achievement in the 2,000,000 new savers campaign was the fourth highest in the country, stated the commissioner in his annual report for the National Savings Movement. Yorkshire's share in the National target was 150,000 new savers. The region raised slightly over £87,000,000, which was 7.5% of the national total. It was a record return. Of new groups, 396 were in industry, 104 in schools, 1,097 in streets and 200 in social organisations.

25 years ago

A private eye had tracked down guesthouse pirates in York. He had compiled a blacklist, which was handed to the city council. The B and B sleuth was hired by bona-fide private hotel and guesthouse proprietors. They claimed private owners were robbing them of a fair living by undercutting tariffs and turning a blind eye to fire, health and rates regulations. Mr Arthur Rawlings, chairman of York City Private Hotels and Guest Houses Association, said: "Most of the evidence was gathered initially by our members. Then we hired a private detective, formerly a CID man, to investigate further. While registered businesses charge £6 a night bed-and-breakfast in high season and £5.50 at other times, pirates are undercutting at £5 and £4.50." The pirates were getting away with it because of a York ruling that people who did not use more than 23 per cent of their rooms for letting did not need planning permission to go into the letting trade.

Updated: 08:30 Tuesday, September 06, 2005