Forty-eight appeals were dealt with by the local tribunal for the borough of Luton yesterday [February 23rd, 1916]. The members sat, with a short interval for tea, from 2.30 till after eight o'clock.

In several cases the appeal was by a man who was the only man left in a straw hat factory. Time after time the man stated that if he was called up the business must be closed, with loss of money and hardship for relatives solely dependent on the business.

The principal point of public importance arising out of the consideration of these appeals was that the sudden closing of number of these small factories would involve a tremendous dislocation of trade, and loss of revenue to the country. Some large houses with a big turnover depended almost wholly on these small factories, and if their supplies were cut off by the closing of these small factories, export trade which brought money into the country would be affected, and other sources of public revenue would be cut off.

It was recognised that men were needed, and that personal inconvenience could not of itself be regarded as sufficient to free a man from the call to service. On the other hand, these factories provided some of the money necessary to maintain and supply the Army.

The general lines on which the Tribunal acted, therefore, were to inquire whether a short time of grace would enable the appellant to wind up his business affairs reasonably, and, where it seemed just, to grant a temporary postponement till June 30th, the end of the season. The reason of this period of postponement was that with the seasonal character of the trade, stock which would have to be sold at a considerable loss in a forced sale could be disposed of without any great loss.

It was submitted by one member of the Tribunal that it was not in the national interest that these persons should be involved in this loss by being called up at once, and that if they were left until the end of the season the trade would be able to adapt itself to the changed conditions before he next season.

It does not follow that all appeals will result in postponement till the end of the season. The Tribunal have to be satisfied that there are important reasons why this should be done.

One applicant said his mother would be reduced to penury if he was called up. His only brother was a soldier and was reported missing some time ago. The men who were working for him before the war were now either in the Army or on munitions, and he had to do everything.

Another had father and mother totally dependent on him, and no men now in his employ, with the result that, if he left, the factory would have to be closed.

Later, a man stated quite candidly that he only wanted time to get rid of his stock. He left it to the Tribunal, but said two months postponement would be better than one. If he had to sell of at once, all that he had worked for during several years would be gone, while a little time would enable him time to turn his stock over in the ordinary way of trade and put a little by. He did not want to get out of it, but only to have a little time to clear up.

In another application it was said the father was in poor health, one son was in the Army and the other had to carry on the business, and no other men were employed.

These cases are typical of the appeals on behalf of men engaged in small straw factories.

One man who appealed for his son as essential to him in his business, which included more than one variety of work, was asked whether he could not make money out of anything. He was not quite sure about that, but said he had to do what he could to get a living. The son was retained in his group.

A widow appealed for her son on the ground that he was absolutely indispensable, and that whereas he had three or four assistants he was now the only practical workman left. Another son had joined the Regulars. The son was given till June 30th, as it was known that the widow had been having a very great struggle.

A firm having headquarters at Bedford and branches at Luton and elsewhere, appealed for their local manager, and stated that he was the only one still at Luton with the knowledge necessary for the business. A branch in another town had been closed because the responsible men were with the Army, as also was a son of the principal. At Bedford there were now only girls and one old man, instead of a number of men. The man was postponed for a short time to give opportunity for a substitute to be found.

One gentleman wrote withdrawing an appeal he had made on behalf of his son. He explained that he had managed to make arrangements to release his son, who had already enlisted.

"I do not want any favours. We have to beat the Germans, and I wish I could go as well as this young man," said one applicant, who said he thought he could release his employee in April. Postponed till March 31st.

A man who had charge of a shire horse was appealed for. The employer candidly admitted that the man would be a very useful man in the Army, but no one in his position could do without and experienced employee of this kind. It was mentioned that the firm had about 70 men with the colours, and some departments of the business had been closed down. Temporary exemption till June was granted.

One elderly man said he had two sons in the Army, his third son was the only man now employed in his business, and his fourth and final son was at a munition works. In his business he used three horses and several vans, and if this son had to go the business must cease, and he would be left without any means of existence. Postponed till June 30th.

With regard to the difficulty of getting slaughterman, which was the ground of several appeals, it was mentioned that there were two slaughtermen going round the town doing casual work, but it was difficult to get them when they were wanted. A member of the Tribunal asked asked whether there was a Master Butchers Association in the town and, on being told there was not, suggested that the formation of such an Association might help to get over this difficulty by sharing labour.

One master butcher said he had been working harder during the last six months than ever before in his life, and two of his assistants said as much work was done after the shop was closed as while it was open.

The decisions in the cases of the slaughtermen varied somewhat according to the circumstances of the cases. In a case where one employer appealed for two slaughtermen, one man was exempted conditionally on remaining a slaughterman, and the other was postponed till March 30th.

It was mentioned that the textile trade refused to recognise travelling as essential, and that travellers would have to stay at home and release other men.

A manufacturer who appealed for his son said he formerly employed at least 11 men. When was broke out, and before other men thought of going, this son twice tried to enlist, but without success. Then the 11 men, with the exception of one man who was married and over age, enlisted, and he had promised to reinstate them after the war. The result was that where previously he did a big business and employed 11 men and upwards, he now had only his son and one married man. Postponed till June 30th.

"Ninety per cent of our trade is export trade," said one of the principals of a firm who wished to retain a man who was wholly responsible for getting the orders from abroad. The principal further stated the employee was busy getting trade which was formerly held by the Germans, and without him the firm would be without anyone who had the knowledge of the markets which the firm were supplying.

On the ground that the man was "the medium by which orders were obtained from foreign countries for English manufactured goods," the employee was exempted conditionally while employed in that way.

It should be remembered by employers who are making appeals for their men, and also by men applying on personal grounds, that they have to prove their case, not only to the satisfac tion of the Tribunal, but also that of the Military Representative, who in the present instance is Lieut-Col Fenwick. The Tribunal may be satisfied that there is reason for postponing a man, but the Military Representative may not see eye to eye with the Tribunal, and has the right to appeal against their decision.

Because of this the Town Clerk (Mr William Smith) , who is also clerk to the local Tribunal, made a statement which requires the serious consideration of the military authorities. He pointed out that the recruiting movement started in Luton some months before the outbreak of war. A large number of men were then induced to enlist in the Territorials, and when the war commenced many more enlisted in the Regulars or the Territorials. Because of this Luton's recruiting record exceeded the average of a good many places in the country, and that was why there were so few really eligible men left to come before the Tribunal, and why they were not finding so many real shirkers as the nation expected.

[The Luton News: Thursday, February 24th, 1916]