December 1935
Downfield - Today and Yesterday
Downfield folk will know a great deal more about the suburb in which they reside after they have read the booklet, "Downfield Old and Downfield New," written by Mr W. Stiven. This little volume, which cost 6d, is being sold for the benefit of Downfield Tennis Club. Mr Stiven recalls when Downfield was a separate village and when the footpaths and roads between it and Dundee made the three miles seem quite a journey. He recalls too, the annexation of Downfield by the city in 1907. Mr Stiven closes his volume with the comment:- "While there be those who say, 'Ah, we liked the old Downfield better, wi' a its dirty roads and puddles,' there can be no doubt whatever the new is better".
The Bellman's Budget - Cheering News
Dundee's industrial barometer continues to rise steadily. From figures issued this week, which are given in detail on another page, unemployment has been reduced by 3600 compared with the corresponding period of last year. The trades in which the drop is most noticeable are jute, shipbuilding, engineering and building.
While the unemployment total has been reduced by 3600, this does not complete the industrial; improvement in the city. Actually during the past eleven months the local Employment Exchange has placed in situations 12,602 persons. These have been employed in the city, but other 900 people have been found employment outside Dundee, so that work has been given to 13,502 persons.
One of the most satisfactory features of the industrial situation is that the upward trend of employment is being maintained over a period of years. There is nothing spasmodic about it.
Of great significance, too, it is announced that during the past eleven months 149 boy apprentices have been placed in trades as compared with 99 during the whole of last year.
It is a safe indication of improving trade when industries take on new apprentices. When times are dull apprentices are not sought after.
There is still room for a good deal of improvement in the trade of the city. The present position does not call for throwing hats in the air, but is does warrant a substantial measure of gratification.
News of the continued improvement could not come at a better time that towards the close of the year, with the festive season drawing nigh.
Christmas Dinner
Make sure of its success - at moderate cost. Roger offers you the largest selection of fine quality Game, poultry, rabbits and venison
John Roger & Son, 28 Union Street, Dundee. Phone: 2205.
Railway Greetings
Those arriving at the West Station for their Christmas or New Year Holidays will receive a hearty welcome. The man responsible is Mr Stewart McDonald, whose designs on notice-boards at the station have attracted much attention recently. Mr McDonald's latest achievement is a seasonable greeting attractively displayed in red, green and yellow chalk and embellished with holly leaves. It reads: "The West Station staff wish all travellers a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year".
Entertainments
Broadway
All next week
Jimmy Currie Presents Grand Pantomime
"Cinderella"
A super production with Bobby Telford, Harold Pryde, Pauline Ross, Will & Wills, Colin Murray, Sisters Embert, Grace Clark, Jennie McAndrew.
Now Booking. Phone No: 3292.
"Frank" of the Café Val D'or
The passing of Frank Norrie, the genial commissionaire of the Café Val D'or, has removed from Dundee one of its best-known figures. He was known to thousands as Frank, and his ready smile and just as ready wit made him popular with all. His death at the comparatively early age of 33 was most unexpected. He was off work for a week, and died on Tuesday in Dundee Royal Infirmary, appendicitis having developed into peritonitis. An unsuccessful operation was performed in an effort to save his life.
"There will never be anybody like Frank again" said a co-employee. "He was unfailingly obliging in all the three years he was here. When it was known he was ill hundreds of people came in here every night just for the purpose of asking about his progress. Everyone will miss him"
Norrie, whose home was at 79 Arbroath Road, is survived by his widow and four children.
More Trains to Barnhill
An improvement in the train service from Dundee to Broughty Ferry and Barnhill is to be effected early in the New Year. There will be two extra trains per day, one in the morning and one in the evening, and the new service will commence on Monday, 6th January.
In the morning the additional train will leave Dundee East Station at 8.40, calling at Broughty Ferry and arriving at Barnhill at 8.57. The train will return from Barnhill at 9 o'clock, calling at Broughty Ferry at 9.3 and at Dundee East at 9.11.
The Dundee East to Forfar train which leaves at 9.15 will be altered to leave at 9.18.
The extra run in the evening will be on each week-day except Saturday. It will leave Dundee East at 6.16 calling at West Ferry and Broughty Ferry and arriving at Barnhill at 6.29. It will return from Barnhill at 6.38.
Shop Early
Is a popular slogan at this season, and we respectfully bring it to your attention. Our branches are well stocked with Household Goods of depending quality, in great variety, suitable for gifting.
Early Shoppers
Undoubtedly have the best selection of goods to choose from. Our New Showrooms at the Wellgate are now open, offering better facilities for dealing with our ever increasing business.
Your money goes further at
W.T. Martin
199 Prince's Street; 68 Wellgate and 118 High Street, Lochee.
Shipbuilding Activity
On Monday the Caledon Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd., will launch the 2280ton steamer Philomel for the General Steam Navigation Co., Ltd.
The double funnelled Ratnagiri, for the recently formed Ratnagar Steamship Company, Bombay, will be put through her paces today and the Rutland for Sir James Currie and Co., Leith will follow tomorrow.
Two 550-ton motor coasters for the General Steam Navigation Company are in hand. They should reach the launching stage in the late spring of 1936.
The Caledon output for the year will total approximately 4800 tons.
Last years output was one vessel of 1361 tons.
The company's record output was 41,000 tons in 1930. Already about 18,000 tons are on hand for launching during the first six months of 1936.