25 years ago - The Times
Monday, April 18, 1994
Parties’ reactions to results
Political parties yesterday gave contrasting interpretations to the results of Saturday’s 11 local council elections.
The Nationalist Party, which won 29 of the 73 seats, said the results were according to expectations. “We had made our analysis beforehand and the results confirmed it,” PN leader Eddie Fenech Adami told a press conference in Pietà.
Labour Party leader Alfred Sant, whose party is not contesting local council elections, said the results confirmed the people’s wish to keep political parties away from local councils.
Alternattiva Demokratika, which polled 4.8 per cent of the vote to elect two candidates, said it registered its biggest success to date.
Strike closes Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour was closed to vessels yesterday as the General Workers’ Union ordered pilots and mooring men to strike for 24 hours in solidarity with shipyard workers. The industrial action was the first in a series announced by the union to press for wage increases at the ’yard.
The union said that because of the action, cruise liners would not be able to enter port. It said at least four tourist liners had been expected in port this week and the first was expected to arrive this afternoon for a two-day stay.
Half a century ago - Times of Malta
Saturday, April 18, 1969
Industrial counter-espionage expert to settle in Gozo
Mr Philip Hickson, author of Industrial Counter-Espionage, has decided to settle in Gozo with his wife.
Mr Hickson has been in industry and commerce for 35 years – 20 years as an electronic manufacturer and 14 years as a buying director. In 1930 he conceived the first valve-type hearing aid; the Cardiophone, an amplifier for heart-sounds, and made a film of it for Movietone News.
Then for 20 years he was with Ardente as their technical director. He designed the Loud Hailer for the Royal Navy and developed electronic torpedo fuses. Some of the equipment of his design is in everyday use on police cars, railway stations, ships, and in hospitals, hotels and factories throughout the world.
Mr Hickson said yesterday he started taking an interest in industrial espionage when he became a consultant four years ago. He added that £110 to £500 million were being lost by British industry through the insidious menace of industrial spying.
Asked why he chose Gozo to settle in, Mr Hickson said “it is an island which captured my heart and my wife’s. It is so peaceful and affords me a unique opportunity to write.”