Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, March 28th, 1918.

Full details of the Order that comes into force on Tuesday restricting the consumption of gas and electricity, as outlined in the House of Commons last week, were issued last night, and certain modifications of the restrictions are indicated. In the case of shop fronts, for example, no light will be allowed except that approved by the police as necessary for serving customers inside the shop, or any light used solely for illuminating a small sign to indicate that the shop is open.

The ' no hot meal' between 9.30pm and 5am restriction for an inn, hotel, restaurant, boarding house, club, hall or public eating or refreshment house does not apply to beverages served to residents, to railway buffets, to canteen at railway stations to which only soldiers and sailors or attendants are admitted, to meals supplied to travelling parties of soldiers and sailors on the order of a military or naval authority, to private canteens at Government offices or works, controlled establishments, or police stations.

No gas or electricity will be allowed in places of entertainment between 10.30pm and 1pm the following day - except for cleaning or rehearsal to which the public are not admitted. The restriction applies to an entertainment or lecture in an hotel or boarding house.

Following is the restriction: "No person shall consume or permit to be consumed in any one quarter of a year on any premises of which he is the occupier more than five-sixths of the amount of gas or electricity which was consumed on the same premises during the corresponding quarter of the year 1916 or 1917, whichever was the greater."

• The name of Mr Murray W. Janes (pictured right) has been added to the Commission of the Peace for the Borough of Luton - the the town's second Labour JP. He was born in Stuart Place, Luton, 50 years ago and became interested in the trade union movement a quarter of a century ago, joining the Amalgamated Society of Engineers in 1893. It is no secret in the local trade union movement that there is a strong following who would like to see him stand for Parliamentary honours.

• Mr Janes was among nine potential candidates nominated by unions attached to the Luton Trades and Labour Council as Parliamentary candidates. The others were Mr Willet Ball (Luton), Mr Fred Bates (Luton), Mr H. N. Brailsford (Welwyn), Mr T. W. Hawkesley (Luton), Mr T. H. Knight (Luton), Mr W. J. Mair (Luton), Mr R. Morley (Halifax) and Mr E. Timms (Dunstable). The final choice will be made at a meeting at the Winter Assembly Hall, although Mr Mair and Mr Bates have intimated that they do not wish to stand. The candidate chosen will probably be found among Messrs Ball, Brailsford, Knight and Janes.

• We hear that Mr Low Giddings JP has sold his residence in Studley Road and will shortly leave Luton for Bournemouth, where he and his wife and daughters are taking up residence. Mr Giddings will not sever his business link with Luton, so will probably be seen occasionally on the Borough bench.

• A further sum of £420 was voted from the profits of the Luton Waste Paper Scheme on Tuesday evening, when the Committee and guests met at the office of the Hon Secretary (Mr W. H. Cox), Wellington Street. The value of waste paper sold during the past 18 months was £3,000, and the profits exceeded £1,750. Including that evening's distribution, £1,600 would have been allocated to war charities.

• Lieut-Col Edgar Brighten (Bedfordshire Regiment) was on Saturday at Buckingham Palace invested by the King with the Companionship of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, and the Distinguished Service Order.

• An officer has paid tribute to Pte Frederick George Sheppard, aged 25, son of Mr J. Sheppard, of 287 High Town Road, Luton, who has been killed in France.

• The sad news of the death of her husband, Pte Christopher Joseph Lathwell, has just reached Mrs Lathwell, of 14 Moreton Road, Round Green, Luton, in letters from a comrade and an Army Chaplain, and official confirmation is expected.

• Cpl-Farrier T. G. Smith, of Streatley, formerly employed by Messrs T. Lye & Sons, of Luton, is progressing favourably in hospital at Newport, Monmouthshire, after being seriously wounded in the leg and shoulder in France.

• News has been received in a comrade's letter that Cpl W. G. Simpkins (Beds Regiment) has been gassed during the recent heavy fighting in France. His parents at Mangrove are anxiously awaiting official news of his condition.

• Sapper H. Stonnell (E.A.R.E.), who home is at 126 Hartley Road, Luton, is now in a military hospital at Sherborne, Dorset, suffering from gas poisoning sustained on March 14th. Sapper Stonnell was employed at Skefko as a moulder when he joined up in January 1915. He went to France the following April and has seen thre years service out gthere.

• The public are reminded that all meat cards should be registered with their butchers immediately, as the returns of butchers' requirements must be deposited by Saturday morning.

• An inquest was held on Monday and Tuesday into the terrible death of Mrs Emily Ruffett, of Biscot, who collided with a big motor lorry while riding a borrowed cycle last Friday. The lorry driver from Birmingham failed to stop after the accident but said he had felt no jar and had not realised what had happened. Coroner Mr G. J. M. Whyley said there was insufficient evident to justify a verdict of manslaughter, the jury returning a verdict of accidental death.

• Late yesterday afternoon, Harold B. Prime, aged 13, of 45 Tennyson Road, tried to climb up the side of a Post Office lorry in Barber's Lane. He was not seen by the driver, who started to drive away. The boy fell under one of the front wheels, which went over one of his feet. Fortunately, it was found that his foot was no more than severely bruised and he was taken home on the police ambulance.

• A pretty wedding was solemnised at Mount Tabor Church on Wednesday of last week, the contracting parties being Pte S. V. Cornish (Bedfordshire Regiment) and Miss Nellie Buckingham, of Dorset Villa, Marsh Road, Leagrave.

• The marriage took place on Saturday at the Salvation Army Temple, Park Street, of Sgt-Major Herbert J. Odell, son of Envoy and Mrs John Odell, of Luton No 2 Corps, Manchester Street, to Miss Agnes George.

• At a special meeting of the Borough Education Authority last night, the Officers and Staff Committee approved the appointment of Miss Edith Currant as Headmistress of Langley Street Infants' School, in place of Mrs R. Sear, who has gone to Chapel Street School.

• The Council Chamber of the Town Hall was occupied on Friday afternoon by a meeting in connection with the National Union of Women Workers. The speaker were Miss Cheetham and Miss Thompson, who explained the aims and objects of the union. A resolution to establish a branch of the N.U.W.W. was carried almost unanimously, and an informal committee was formed there and then.

• On Saturday evening a meeting was held at St Saviour's Parish Room of the allotment-holders renting plots on the Stockwood allotments situate on White Hill, Hagdole and Red Rails (combined) and Winsdon Hill in order to form an Allotment Society and become affiliated to the Luton Federation. The annual subscription was fixed at 1s, of which 3d will go to the Federation. The objects aimed at included greater security of tenure, provision of water on the plots and the procuring of manure at a cheaper rate.

• Hardly within living memory has there been a long spell of favourable weather in March, and seldom, if ever, has the work on the land been more forward. The sowing of spring corn has been going on at a rapid rate, and wheat barley and oats have all been sown under ideal conditions. Last year in March hardly an acre had been sown.