On-going friction between Luton Borough Tribunal and the military authorities was continuing with Tribunal complaints about the number of appeals against its decisions and the quality and reliability of medical examinations at Bedford.

On Monday, August 20th, 1917, Tribunal member Alderman H. O. Arnold wanted to know the number of appeals there had been by the Military Representative (Lieut H. Gardner) in the past month against decisions of the Tribunal, whether against temporary or conditional exemption.

He said it seemed almost inevitable that cases went straight away to the Appeals Tribunal, in which case there might just as well not be a Luton Tribunal at all.

Town Clerk William Smith said he had kept records for a long time but discontinued to do so because he thought it was becoming a big tax owing to the number of appeals.

Mayor Alderman John Staddon said he had been away and not seen a newspaper until last week and was astounded by the number of appeals. But only in one case was the Luton Tribunal's decision reversed.

Lieut Gardner pointed out that the Army was now asking for low category men for special service, and it had been posted in instructions that a low category man must be posted where his trade, profession or business was of the most importance.

After the Mayor said Army instructions could not be trusted, the Town Clerk commented: "There isn't that glamour about an Army instruction, even in the eyes of Military Representatives, that there used to be. It is a most fallacious kind of document and often issued in direct contravention of statements made by responsible Ministers of the Crown.

At the following evening's sitting, the Town Clerk referred to cases which the Tribunal had sent for re-examination. In one case a man passed 'A' (fit for service) was then discharged simply because the Tribunal called attention to dissatisfaction about the medical examination. It was a most remarkable change in a decision, he said, citing other cases in which men's categories were lowered.

"I want to moderate my language as far as I can," said the Town Clerk, "but there must be something radically wrong which will allow men to be placed in high categories and later discharged within a period of something less than two months. I think the men who come before you ought to be deeply grateful that there is this Tribunal to protect them."

Mr Primett moved that a report of the cases should be sent to the Local Government Board in London, and this was agreed.

[The Luton News: Thursday, August 23rd, 1917]