Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: September 8th, 1917.

Town Clerk William Smith (pictured) was proving to be not too forthcoming on the work of Luton's new Food Control Committee, other than to say it was at work and he had matters to bring before the members when they next met.

An unnamed grocer did, however, give the Saturday Telegraph an insight into early deliberations involving sugar supplies. The informant said the Town Clerk had made a good start in his capacity as Executive Officer of the committee, and he estimated a saving of something approaching a ton of sugar for Lutonians in consequence of prosecutions.

"We are worried to death over this business of sugar distribution, and the new scheme has brought scores of inquiries. I am certain that my customers will thoroughly appreciate the Town Clerk's splendidly prompt action in this matter."

Another grocer said it should be made clear that there will nevertheless not be an unlimited supply of sugar for anyone, or an increase in the supply to regular customers. He estimated that saving at rather less than a ton of sugar.

• This morning seven new special constables were sworn in by Col Carruthers at the Court House. They were appointed to fill vacancies caused by resignations etc. They were Messrs G. Unwin, G. H. Jones, Ernest Giddings, A. J. Powdrill, Alfred Hankins, Evan Evans, H. R. McKenzie and Clement Walker.

• A 17-year-old errand boy who did not appear at the time his name was called was fined 10 shillings at the Luton Borough Sessions this morning for riding a bicycle on Pondwicks Path on September 4th. Clerk Mr William Austin said the offence was too common, and it was the same on Moor Path.

• An important announcement was made on Wednesday which has a special interest for Luton, as by agreement between the British and French Governments articles of Paris millinery are now to be admitted to this country without limitation.

• On behalf of Bedfordshire Education Committee, Mr H. E. Baines is appealing to head teachers for co-operation in a scheme for schoolchildren to collect blackberries for the manufacture of jam for the Navy and Army. Sanction has been given to the granting of one or two half-holidays a week to selected schools to enable children to go out into the fields to collect the berries.

• Cadet Owen Brownlow Dale (London Regiment,Artists' Rifles), son of Mrs Dale, of Brooklands, New Bedford Road, Luton, has been killed in action by a fragment of shell. Although only 18 years of age, he was sent out to France on May 26th and had been in the trenches only five weeks.

• We regret to record the death in action of Pte Ernest Currant (Worcestershire Regiment), husband of Mrs Currant, of 18 Dunstable Place, Luton, which took place on August 27th. He was married but had no children, although he also had an invalid mother.

• Mr and Mrs James Felks, of 23 John Street, Luton, have received news that their son, Pte Thomas Felks (Beds Regiment), who was previously reported missing, was killed in actio in Palestine on July 20th. He was aged 28 and unmarried.

• Mrs White, of 7 Manor Path, Luton, has received news that her eldest son, Pte Louis Stonnell (Northamptonshire Regiment), is now a prisoner of war in German hands. He was captured during the battle of the Dunes in France on July 10th. Previous to his enlistment he was employed by coal merchant Messrs Newbold and Martell.

• Mrs Kempton, of 1 Chobham Street, Luton, has received news that he husband, Pte Albert Kempton, is lying at the Military Hospital, Woking, suffering from a bad attack of poison gas. He had previously been wounded at Hill 60 and was nearly buried alive.

• We learn that Rifleman Cecil Powell, son of Mr S. C. Powell, of 14 Hillborough Road, Luton, was wounded in the fighting at Messines and St Julien on August 16th. He joined the Beds Regiment in August 1916 and was transferred to the Royal Irish Rifles. He is now in hospital at Whitstable, Kent.

• Despite the absence of Ernest Simms, Luton Town fielded a much stronger team for the home fixture to the one beaten 2-1 the previous week by opponents the Royal Naval Depot, who included England international Frank Hudspeth (Newcastle United) in their side for the second match. Luton took the lead through Tempest on the stroke of half time. Tempest, Butcher and Cumming scored in the second half to make the final score 4-0. As a footnote, the game was played in front of a brand new clock on the grandstand, presented by the sportsmen of Biscot.