Being granted a conditional exemption by a Tribunal under the Military Service Act was no guarantee that life would simply continue as before. Take the instance of a fruiterer whose case was reopened on the application of the military representative - and the insults he had had to suffer in the meantime that would produce an angry response from Mayor Alderman John Staddon (pictured), who chaired the hearing.

The case was reopened on Wednesday, March 22nd, 1916, at a sitting of the Luton Borough Tribunal. The military representative suggested that it was only a matter of arrangement by which the applicant could get someone also to run his business.

The applicant said the business had been in his family for three generations, and he went up to Covent Garden at least once a week and sometimes twice a week for supplies. He said it would be an exceptional hardship if he had to leave his business, for he had the premises on lease.

Solicitor Mr H. W. Lathom, for the applicant, said that there had been no fact disclosed which was not before the Tribunal previously, and on that ground alone he asked the Tribunal to say that the application of the military representative had failed.

The Mayor (Alderman J. H. Staddon) said the case had been reopened because there were people in the town who knew more of other people's business than their own. It had come to his notice in one case, and it was entirely through competitive jealousy, and it was most unfair, and was the fault of admitting Press and public to the meetings.

The military representative: "I must take exception to that."

The Mayor: "I don't care. I can prove it. In a large town like London it would be different, but in a town like this, where everybody knows everybody, it is most unfair." The military representative agreed.

It was stated that the applicant had been the recipient of insulting postcards and threatening letters, and the Chairman said: "That is the reason I have spoken, and my tongue is not going to be tied when men are treated in that way."

The certificate of exemption previously granted was withdrawn, and postponement granted until May 31st.

There was conflict with the military over whether another man was fit for service. It was said that he had been medically examined by a military doctor and passed for service, but the Tribunal were unanimous in the opinion that the man was unfit and they refused to accept the report of the medical officer.

The military representative said he would take the case further, and he asked the Tribunal to give its reasons in writing for not accepting the medical officer's report.

The Town Clerk (Mr William Smith) said that would be to the effect that the man should have been examined by a medical board instead of by only one doctor.

[The Luton News: Thursday, March 23rd, 1916]