[The Luton News: Thursday, June 12th, 1919]

Yesterday a still more serious position arose regarding the pattern makers' dispute at the Davis Gas Stove Co's works [Diamond Foundry, Dallow Road]. Called out by their Society, 13 pattern makers did not return to work after the Whitsun holiday.

First, the men lost a demand for a higher pay rate on arbitration, but Mr Davis was quite willing to pay the higher rate. Nevertheless, he was bound by his Federation, and when the men reasserted their claim he suggested that the matter should be dealt with constitutionally between his Federation and the Pattern Makers' Society. A strike had been averted since May 27th, and it seemed that the men accepted Mr Davis' suggestion.

They have failed to return to work after the Whitsun holiday, and we understand that the Society had not given Mr Davis notice, so that the arbitrary action came upon him as a surprise and at a time when the works are busy in connection with stove and other work.