Digest of stories from The Luton News: Thursday, October 17th, 1918.

Important matters relating to the hat trade of Luton came before the Chamber of Commerce at a meeting held at the Public Library on Monday evening. Secretary Mr Thomas Keens reported that at the last Council meeting they were of opinion that the time had come to put an end, if possible, to the further denuding of the works of the straw trade for the purpose of making munitions. They realised these must be made, but they held that it was desirable that no more skilled workers in the hat trade should be taken.

It was decided to send a circular letter to local firms stating that the straw hat industry had been seriously depleted of skilled labour, and the transference continued. This was not due to any question of wages as it was well known that, normally, the rates of pay to skilled workers in the trade were as high as any other women's occupation.

The Council were aware that the other works must be filled, but it was necessary or desirable to take skilled workers from the hat industry for work on which they were unskilled. It was understood that the principals of the works the operatives went to concurred in the position, and the Council asked them to decline to engage any skilled straw hat workers. There could be no hardship to the workers, as there was ample work at good rates of pay at any time.

• A very definite statement was made by the Chairman of the Beds Appeal Tribunal on Monday at Luton Town Hall. He said: “As there appears to be an impression abroad, in consequence of the glorious, happy results of the war during the past two or three months, and the action of the German Government in making overtures of peace, that there will be some alteration in the proceedings of this Tribunal. I wish to make it public and quite clear that, so far as this Tribunal is concerned, our work will go on precisely the same as hitherto...There is no reason why the country should not be kept fully prepared for any emergency that may arise. Therefore, in dealing with applications for exemption, we shall take precisely the same course of action as in the past.”

• Cpl Leslie H. Seamark (pictured right), son of Mr and Mrs H. Seamark, of Messrs E. Ward & Co, New Bedford Road, Luton, has been awarded the Military Medal “for one or two odd jobs” with the Rifle Brigade at Salonica.

• Mrs Hill, of 254 High Town Road, Luton, has been notified that her son, Pte Herbert Hill (Middlesex Regiment) has been gassed and admitted into the General Hospital on September 6th. He now wears two wound stripes, having been wounded in the thigh in November 1917. Pte Hill, who is aged 20, and formerly worked at Kent's, has seen much service in France since crossing in May 1917. He is getting on as well as can be expected.s

• Official notification has been received by Mrs G. Shephard, of 244 High Town Road, Luton, that her husband, Gunner G. Shephard (Royal Horse Artillery) was gassed on September 13th and admitted into a General Hospital, Boulogne Base. He is the youngest son of Mr and Mrs A. Shephard, of 71 Clarendon Road, Luton, and was a member of St Matthew's Cricket Club and of the church choir. He was also a member of the Midland Athletic FC.

• On Saturday afternoon, the Bishop of St Albans instituted the Rev Canon Morgan Smith (formerly of Christ Church, Luton) as Rector of Stevenage, Herts.

• Convened by the Luton Tradesmen's Association, a meeting of retailers was held at the Town Hall on Monday evening to consider the hours of closing during the winter months, with a view to saving fuel and light. A resolution proposed by Mr Inwood was adopted with practical unanimity - “that the distributors of food should close at 7pm on Monday, Tuesday, at 8pm on Saturday. Dry goods trades (excluding tobacconists and newsagents) at 6pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 8pm on Saturday. Commencing November 4th.”

• Mr and Mrs Chance, of Chalton, have received an official intimation of the death of their son, Pte J. B. Chance (East Surrey Regiment), killed in action in France on August 28th. He was 19 years of age.

• Two officers from Oxford on Monday evening flew low over Luton just before dark. Owing to the failing light they were forced to descend in the fields behind Farley Farm. The machine, which was slightly damaged, was guarded by Biscot men. And on Tuesday morning the officers continued the flight.

• In a letter to the Editor, the Vicar of Luton, the Rev Arthur E. Chapman, said: “I am anxious to do in Luton what is being done in other towns, that is to have a book in which the names of all Lutonians who have fallen in the war shall be inscribed. The book must be the best that money can buy, and will be placed in a conspicuous place in the Parish Church, there to remain a record for all time of all who have died for us.”