Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: January 27th, 1917.

Important conferences in connection with the control of the licensed trade in Luton and district were held at the Town Hall, Luton, yesterday. Delegates included members of the Central Control (Liquor) Board, members of local authorities, industry, trade unionists and the police.

The local situation had been reviewed at an inquiry conducted by the Board at Northampton in June, when Bedfordshire was excluded from restrictions. That stimulated a movement in Luton, organised by the local Temperance Federation, for restrictions on the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor under the Defence of the Realm Act.

Following a morning session held in camera, Mr G. C. Brooke, Acting Secretary to the Control Board, issued the following statement: "We have come to meet the local authorities to inquire into the condition of the liquor traffic at the present time. Of course, there will be no decision by the delegation; they will take notes of the statement made to them and afterwards report to the Board, with whom the decision lies. We shall meet the county, borough and local authorities of Luton and Dunstable, the constabulary, employers of labour and representatives of labour. This afternoon we shall receive and hear a deputation from the licensing trade."

The case for the liquor trade was presented by Mr C. E. Dyer, King's Counsel, who said there had been no change or new fact to justify the alteration of the decision arrived at in June. The Telegraph devoted a lengthy report to the session, in which the principal points raised by Mr Dyer were that there was no demand for the restriction of hours of sale; he had been instructed that there were no demand for managers and proprietors of firms for restriction; as far as the police were concerned, convictions for drunkenness remained practically stationary; and the trade could find no complaint made from the military authorities.

• Important matters affecting the Luton [hat] trade arising out of military requirements came before the Chamber of Commerce last evening. Secretary Mr Thomas Keens reported that the Association of Chambers had passed a resolution agreeing to help the Director of National Service in every possible way, but pointing out the enormous waste of labour already existing in the Army.

• A verdict of death from natural causes was returned by a jury at an inquest into the sudden death of Mr William George Cartwright, aged 24, elder son of Mr George Cartwright, dairyman, of 185 Dunstable Road, Luton. He had gone to the garage where he kept his car, and when he failed to return, his father went to the garage and found his son lying dead beside the vehicle. There was no smell of exhaust gas in the garage. Coroner Mr G. J. M. Whyley said the deceased might have had a seizure and, with nobody there to administer a remedy, death had ensued.

• On Thursday afternoon, whilst a horse and bread van was in Ashton Road, the horse swerved and the back of the van was caught by a passing tramcar with the result that the horse was floored and the shafts of the overturned van broken. Fortunately, no-one was injured.

• On Tuesday evening at the Biscot Camp Recreation Room and enjoyable cinema entertainment was given, the hall being crowded. The men have their own cinematograph apparatus, and some Keystone, Charlie Chaplin and war films were shown on the screen.

• Mr and Mrs Peter, of 74 Old Bedford Road, Luton, have received news from the War Office that their son, Pte Sidney Peters, has been wounded by gunshot in the left knee. He is now in hospital at Newport, and is progressing favourably. It is hoped that he will soon be home for ten days sick leave.

• Nearly 300 men attended a meeting at the Town Hall last night in response to municipal authorities being required to foster a desire for gardens among the working classes for food production. Land available included three acres at Bailey Hill granted by Lady Wernher for allotments, offered rent free for the first year and to be let at 6d a pole in the second year.

• Luton Town faced opposition from Millwall in their London Combination match this afternoon. A crowd of around 3,000 brave the cold and a strong wind to see Simms put the home side ahead at the interval. He added a second shortly after the restart, Millwall pulled one back, before Roberts made the score 3-1 with Millwall keeper Joyce finishing the game with a bandaged arm in trying to make a save. Millwall again pulled a goal back before Leggatt and Hoar made the final score 5-2 to Luton.