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MANCHESTER EYEWITNESS
ISSUE NUMBER 15 SATURDAY, JUNE 14TH, 1947


Thieves stole more than three thousand pounds worth of jewellery from a car parked in St. Ann's Square on Monday afternoon. The incident happened shortly after 2 pm, when a Vauxhall motor-car drove up and parked in front of the shop. The driver then got out and entered. Two men who were standing nearby then got into car and drove off. The jeweller immediately phoned for the police, who arrived in two or three minutes. Radio messages were flashed to every station in Lancashire.

Police have said that theft from cars is on the increase. At the moment, cars are being stolen at a rate of one every 96 minutes. They advised motorists to immobilise and lock their car before leaving it. They should also fit a burglar alarm. A current model produces a continuous wailing if someone tries to enter the car or start it. Cars can be immoblised by removing the rotor arm from the distributor.

Most of the cars are stolen by young men who want to "show off" to their girl friends or to other boys. Fortunately most of the vehicles are recovered undamaged within a 25-mile radius of the city. Police say that care should be taken not to leave any valuables or dangerous drugs in cars.

Another fatal accident has occurred at a demolition site, this time in a back street off Augustine-street, Old Trafford. One labourer was killed and three others injured when the roof of an air-raid shelter fell on them.

The men are believed to have been having lunch at the time. The dead man is James Berry, aged 30 and of Upper Brook-street, Chorlton-on-Medlock. The three injured men are all Irishmen.

A £117,000 swimming baths will be built at Sharston, Wythenshawe. Due to labour shortages, work will not commence until 1949 or 1950. The main baths for Wythenshawe will be located at the Civic Centre.

Mr Lewis Silkin, Minister for Town and Country Planning, announced four possible sites new towns to accommodate Manchester's overspill population. They are Ollerton, near Knutsford, Eccleston, near Chorley, Carnforth, near Lancaster and Crowton, west of Northwich.

It is now unlikely that Mobberley can be used due to subsidences.

Manchester brewers are receiving more coal, and so will be able to brew more beer in the next two weeks. Public houses may then be able to take down their "No beer" signs. Manchester and District Brewers Society has decided prices of locally brewed beers should not change. Bass and Worthington will be dearer and stronger from Monday.

The weather forecast is for moderate to fresh north winds, cloudy with local showers and bright periods. Temperatures will range from cool to very cool.


And here are some of the national headlines this week

Britain considers importing food supplies from Eire. Tourists from abroad are to be exmpted from ration documents during their visit to Britain. Bananas will be more plentiful than last year.

Negotiations have been concluded for the importation of 175,000 cases of champagne, 15,000 cases of saumur and sparkling wine and 160,000 cases of brandy. Prices of vermouth and wine aperitifs will rise to 20s per bottle against 18s 9d in 1946.

Coupon-free silk, from between 75,000 and 100,000 parachute canopies, will soon be on sale. It will be ideal for "undies", wedding frocks and children's clothes.

A bottle of Whiteway's British sherry and ruby port will cost a very reasonable six shillings per bottle. As a recent advert states, "They represent the best value in wine obtainable today. They are full of alcoholic strengh, and the name "WHITEWAY" on a label has been a guarantee of purity and quality for over 50 years."

Text and photos by Aidan O'Rourke

Based on reports in the Manchester Evening News

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