Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: September 30th, 1917.

The 'Klondyke' allotments on Old Bedford Road, Luton, are almost the oldest gardens of their kind and the tenants are very proud of them. There have been splendid crops this year, and doubtless some of the tenants have been preparing for next year.

Something in the nature of a bomb was dropped among them this week, for they received from the owners notice to quit in seven days. Considerable indignation was aroused, and there was talk of a protest meeting to be held on Sunday.

We are now glad to say that the trouble has been satisfactorily overcome, and the whole of the difficulty arose from a technical point. It appears that the owners had sold the land, and the conveyance prescribed "clear possession". It was suddenly discovered that this technical point would not be met unless the tenants were clear and, as the tenancies automatically expire at Michaelmas, notice had to be given at once so that they might clear their crops as soon as possible.

A deputation visited the agents' offices on Friday and as a result they received full satisfaction. Notices sent out, numbering about half the tenancies, will be withdrawn and those remaining will not be issued. It is possible the tenancies will continue for 1919 also. No further difficulty is anticipated.

• There was a fair attendance at the first meeting of the Luton branch of the Independent Labour Party was held at Franklin's Restaurant last evening, Mr F. J. Holdstock presiding. The Executive Committee had recommended that application be made for affiliation to the Luton Trades and Labour Council and, although the question was raised as to their eligibility, it was decided to adopt the committee's recommendation.

• The following public notice was published announcing the first meeting of the newly formed Luton & District Discharged Sailors & Soldiers Association at Woolworth's Cafe, George Street, on Tuesday, October 2nd, without any editorial comment.

• "The Medical Boards now are acting even worse than they did months back," Mayor Alderman John Staddon complained at a meeting of the Luton War Pensions Committee over which he presided last night. For a more extensive report, click here.

• Just before midnight last night considerable alarm was caused in the neighbourhood of Alma Street by a fire which occurred on the premises of Mr F. Webb, blockmaker. It was found that two packing cases had been ignited, evidently by a spark from the furnace. Firemen and police put out the flames with buckets of water. There was very little damage.

• Major Sidney J. Green, the eldest son of Mr J. W. Green, who is on home leave after about two-and-a-half years' service in France, has at his own request been transferred from his old unit, the Beds Yeomanry, to the Scots Guards. He will shortly join his new regiment with the rank of Captain.

• Mrs Jackson, of 27 Waldeck Road, Luton, and late of Leagrave, has received official news that her husband was wounded on August 7th. He was in the Middlesex Regiment. Prior to joining up he worked for Mr W. A. Sharp, straw hat manufacturer, Victoria Street. [Pte William Jackson, 238023, Middlesex Regiment, was reported wounded,then missing, then presumed killed on August 7th].

• Yesterday morning the Luton Borough Prisoners of War Committee received from the "N.T.F." Committee a cheque for £100, bringing up the total contribution from this source since its inception a little over 12 months ago to £526. Hon Secretary Mr William Smith (Town Clerk) expressed appreciation, for funds are in none too flourishing a condition in view of the fact that 25 prisoners are catered for at three parcels a fortnight, and the approximate cost is about £70 a month.

• An important sale of properties is announced for Monday evening next at the George Hotel when Mr E. Douglas Stratford will bring into the market a number of attractive properties offered by order of the executors of the late Councillor Oakley. [Advertisement below].

• A joint meeting of the Ladies' and Men's Hat Sections of the Luton Chamber of Commerce was held at the Public Library on Wednesday night with a view to a scheme being formulated for the training of disabled soldiers in the straw hat industry, and as an outcome a committee was formed to go thoroughly into the matter. At a meeting of the War Pensions Committee last night, Mr W. J. Mair, chairman of the Disablement Suib-Committee, said the arrengement made was very satisfactory so far, and there were hopes of good results.

• Mr Herrod Hempsall, of Luton, the well-known bee expert, lectured in the Stevenage Public Hall on Wednesday on the subject of bee-keeping. To the interest of the many suffragists present, the speaker pointed out that in the hive the ladies ruled entirely, and each worked for the common good - socialism in practice.

• The proprietors of the Grand Theatre and the local picture halls ask the public to bear in mind the increased entertained taxes come into force on Monday.

• Luton Town found on their visit to Southampton today opponents of a very different calibre from the previous week, the red and whites having the services of McClure, of Birmingham, and Lee, of Portsmouth. The Blues lacked Bob Mercer, Brandham, Cummings and George Butcher, and three newcomers were introduced from Biscot Camp - Bombardier Hitchins, a half-back formerly with Halifax, Driver A. Robbins, outside-right from Bradford City, and Gunner Cushway, a London amateur forward. Luton early opened the scoring through Tempest, but were a goal down at the interval. Cushway put them on level terms in the second half, but the defence were beaten again and Southampton won 3-2.