Digest of stories from The Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: January 19th, 1918.

Our representative on Wednesday approached the local political agents in regard to the probable effect of the new women suffrage measure in this constituency. Both Mr Charles Cotchin (Liberal) and Mr G. E. M. Walker (Unionist) are at present unaware of the extent of the change this measure must cause in local political work.

There were probably only about 2,000 women parochial electors in South Beds under the old order of things, but now that women over 30 years of age are to be enfranchised, the actual number who will come on the roll can hardly be estimated. The local agents, however, expect an enormous amount of complicated work, in view of the vast changes caused by the war.

Mr Walker gave it as his opinion that the work of preparing the register will be enormous, but it is a change which he thinks will be welcomed by agents who have had practical experience of the value of women in political work. "It seems to me," he said, "a just recognition of the hard work of the women particularly appreciated, as they have had no voice in the representation they hoped to secure. This measure will mean a great increase in the political organisation of women which should be all to the good, especially with regard to domestic, health and educational problems."

• At Luton butchers' shops this morning, housewives again had the galling experience of waiting in queues and frequently being turned away without meat, or at most a very small quantity. This was evident in regard to the smaller butchers, whose shops presented an absolutely bare appearance, and customers only obtained one or two littler bits of meat and a few odd bones; indeed, passing two butchers' shops in succession our representative saw the assistants selling large meatless bones.

• A sum of £300 was given to war charities on Thursday evening by the Committee of the Luton Waste Paper Scheme. Among the recipients were the British Red Cross Society, via Mrs Durler at Wardown V.A.D. Hospital, and the local Prisoners of War Fund, each receiving £50. Among the other beneficiaries were to be the Biscot Boys, who had been voted £30 for a much-needed new piano for the YMCA Hut there. The instrument was on order.

• News has been received that Cpl Charles George Marsh (Norfolk Regiment), the eldest son of Mr C. G. Marsh, of 30 St Ann's Road, Luton, had been killed in action in Palestine on December 11th last.

• A sale of timber was announced for Thursday afternoon by Messrs J. Cumberland & Sons on land at the corner of Crescent Road and Crawley Green Road. There were 160 oak, elm, beech and lime trees, the property of Mr A. J. Powdrill, but unfortunately, owing to very inclement weather, the sale could not be concluded. There were buyers present from Liverpool and other parts of the country. Twenty lines were sold for £100, an oak for £16 and three elms for £26 10s, while other trees also fetched figures near to the controlled prices. The remainder will be sold in a few days.

• As Bdr Sorrell, of the Royal Field Artillery, Biscot, was repairing along Manchester Street about 7pm yesterday, a piece of spouting fell from Messrs Merchant's premises. It fortunately missed his head but caught him on the side. He taken into the shop in a dazed condition before being removed to Wardown Hospital in a passing motor car. We learn the injuries are not serious and that the man will probably leave hospital on Monday.

• We understand that the usual quarter of an hour devoted to devotional service at Messrs Hayward Tyler's Works for the last 40 years will be discontinued after this week. It is due to a change in working hours. The service, which is more or less of no denomination, has been very popular amongst the men.

• The bad state of the ground due to recent wet weather has necessitated the scratching of today's football match between Luton Town and Davis Athletic.