100 years ago

Discussing the question of relief for widows and children at the meeting of the Central Poor Law Conference, it was pointed out that advice and help were so often needed as the mere giving of an income.

What was needed and was recommended was the appointment of a woman officer, who would deal especially with matters affecting women and children. On this Mr Tunnicliffe, of Dewsbury, urged that what they wanted was "a sort of female Admirable Crichton." (There was laughter.) But they must have a superior person, and to get one they must pay a superior salary.

He thought that they would have to advertise for a woman able to ride a motor-bicycle and with great physical powers, in order to get over the area she would have to travel.
 

50 years ago

Most of us had a hearty welcome for spring - but not such a hearty one for that chore that came along with it, spring-cleaning.

Where did all the household dirt come from? Most of it, mothers of young families would probably tell you, was "traipsed in" by the children.

Surprisingly, it appeared, they were wrong. It was not the children who were the chief spring-clean-sowers in the average home.

A recent survey - don't ask us how they did it - had been carried out by an international cleaning organisation.

Children, they found, made a mess, but they did not account for the majority of the "soiling".

In this, they were responsible for only about 12 per cent. The real villain of the piece, madam, was your husband. He had been found to make as much as 18 per cent of the household total.

Why? Because he trailed around where he pleased, taking his food and drink with him and doing his own messy household chores without spreading out the necessary dust-sheets; whereas the children, in general, stayed put, at least while eating and drinking.
 

25 years ago

The Archbishop of York had again spoken out in favour of controlled experiments on live human embryos.

Speaking before the vote in the House of Lords on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, Dr John Habgood said he was not persuaded the practice should be banned.

He told a forum organised by the Foundation for Science and Technology at the Royal Society the previous week that the Warnock Report which preceded the legislation had "got it about right". But his comments had met with criticism by opponents to embryo research.

Mrs Angela Breffit, chairman of the York Life Group, said: "This is an issue that needs strong moral guidance. If the leaders of the Church of England don't even know when life starts, it's not surprising people are confused by this."