Friday 14 July 1916
Shipley Times & Express base page Shipley Times & Express base page Shipley Times & Express base page Home Page Home Page Home Page PUBLIC MEETING  National War Savings Committee  URBAN DISTRICT OF SHIPLEY  A public meeting will be held in the FRIENDLY SOCIETY’S HALL, SHIPLEY, on WEDNESDAY NEXT, 19th JULY, to arrange for the formation of Local War Savings Committee Chair to be taken at 7.30 p.m  by  COUN THOS HILL, J.P. Chairman of the Shipley District Council A representative of the NATIONAL WAR SAVINGS COMMITTEE will attend the meeting and explain the details of the scheme SHIPLEY AND SALTAIRE ADULT SCHOOLS  ON SUNDAY MORNING, July 16th, 1916 at 9 o’clock, at THE NEW CHURCH (opposite the Wesleyan Chapel, Saltaire) MISS SALT (Late of Milner Field) Will speak on “The New Nation:  It’s Beauty and Peace” Afternoon 3.15 ROSSE STREET SUNDAY SCHOOL MISS SALT speaks on “Ideals in War time” Discussions and questions invited
The case for and against conscientious objectors was spelled out in the discussions into the appeals of a Shipley man who appealed to the Military Tribunal against conscription. William Raistrick, a 37-year-old metal worker from Alexandra Road, Shipley said he objected to any kind of war service, including non- combatant. During the course of his cross examination by the military representative, J A Burton, Mr Raistrick said: “My grounds as a conscientious objector are firmly fixed and I do not see, if I may say so, why the law of the land should come between me and my God.” Mr Burton said he did not doubt the the man’s sincerity but said: “Luckily for you and your wife and family, there are hundreds, thousands even millions of men who think differently and are keeping the wolf out of the fold. “If you cannot bring yourself to join them in this noble defence, at least you can help them and all belonging to them by doing something that does
not involve taking up the sword or rifle. “I suggest that is the way in which the Tribunal look upon the matter when it is a question of a young man of your age who is fit and well. You should not hesitate for a moment in doing all that you can, as we are all doing at this crisis. It is not a matter of objecting to warfare at all; there are hundreds of ways in which you can help.” Mr Raistrick: “I consider the work I am doing now is of great national importance.” Mr Burton: “I cannot agree with you there.” The Tribunal decided to give Mr Raistrick a certificate of non- combatant service to which he said he would appeal. Two conscientious objectors who had already had their appeals turned down were in court for failing to answer their call-up. Lawrence Daker, a woolsorter, of 16 Church Street, Windhill, said he had ‘appealed for a re-hearing and asked for absolute exemption on
conscientious grounds, complaining that he had not received “a fair and just trial” of his case.’ His request was turned down, he was fined 40s and handed over to an escort. Norman Sanctuary of George Street, Saltaire, appeared at the Skipton Court who heard that he had been
found living in a caravan in Austwick. He said that since his appeal was rejected the circumstances at home had changed. His brother was now serving in France, leaving him as the only person to provide for his parents who were 73 years old. He too was fined and remanded to await a military escort.
The verbatim reports of the exchanges in Military Tribunals often provide insights into different jobs and working practises. Smith Pickles, a newsagent of 2 Maddock Street, Shipley, appealed against conscription on the grounds of being a conscientious objector but also because if he were sent away to serve, his business would fail, leaving his wife and three children destitute. “I have no shop,” he explained. “My business is all outside in delivering papers and it keeps me engaged from a quarter past six in the morning.” Asked if his customers wouldn’t stay loyal and collect their papers if he were serving his country, he replied: “I have to go up Moorhead Lane and on to Nab Wood to deliver some of my papers and it is hardly likely customers would come right down to Maddock Street and pass by one or two other newsagent’s shops.” Even Mr Burton, the military representative on the Tribunal, conceded, “Perhaps you are right. It is human nature and it is a long way to go to purchase a halfpenny paper.”  But Mr Pickles appeal was still turned down and he was told he must perform non-combatant duties.  Newsagent working from home
Conscience weighed against the country’s need for soldiers
Baildon dispensing chemist, Mr H Robinson, announced that he was unable to carry on his business in the absence of his son who had been called up for military service after having an appeal against conscription turned down. The local council had sent Cllr Holmes and Ald Dunn to try and persuade Mr Robinson to carry on as ‘it would be a very great inconvenience if the people of Baildon could not get their prescriptions dispensed in the village.’ Ald Dunn reported that they had not heard that he had stopped dispensing so they took it that he would continue as usual.
Councillors hope to persuade chemist to carry on dispensing
‘Enterprising’ cinema bosses hatch plan to dodge entertainment tax
The government had recently introduced a tax on the entrance fees to all sorts of entertainments, including the cinema but it seems the Shipley Times & Express had heard of a new development. ‘We have inside knowledge that within a very few days the enterprising management of the Pavilion De Luxe are inaugurating a scheme whereby the tax difficulty will be overcome and regular patrons of the theatre will be able to get admission at a considerable saving. We hope to be able to say more on the subject in our next week’s issue. This is divulging a secret which we hope Mr Siegel, the popular manager, will overlook.
Mouth organ’s service at war recognised
Music critic ‘Musama’ could not hide his delight that, as he saw it, a musical instrument had been awarded a medal for its part in the war. He quoted a War Office announcement which read: ‘The D.C.M. has been awarded to Company-Quarter Master Sergeant E S Beech, 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders for rallying his men by playing tunes on a mouth organ.” ‘That is the bald announcement,’ wrote Musama, ‘but more of the incident has been brought to light. It seems that after a desperate onslaught with the enemy in superior numbers, our men wavered. Hail of bullets ‘Then came Beech’s opportunity. Emulating Piper Laidlaw, who mounted the trenches at Loos and unconcernedly played to his comrades amidst a hail of bullets, so another gallant countryman essayed much the same feat and with equal success. ‘Here is a recorded case of a service of signal value which a mouth organ has done; what then of the many unrecorded services of other instruments in addition to 16 mouth organs, many of which you readers have sent? ‘Good has been done by stealth – it may be accounted fame!’
Mr J E Jennings represented Baildon at a meeting of Wharfedale War Agricultural Committee at Otley where they learned that the military authorities were willing to release 500 soldiers, in batches of 20, for work on the farms during haymaking. ‘It was indicated that the men would bring their own tents but it was generally thought that it would be better if the men could be billetted at the farm houses.’ After some discussion it was decided to accept the offer and to make it generally known among farmers.
Soldiers set to help with hay harvest
Shipley Council to go it alone after joint town-plan is disallowed
Despite extensive coverage of the Somme, the leading piece in the editorial columns remained the disputes that had been going on for a few weeks between Bradford and Shipley councils over who should submit town-plans for approval by the government. It had seemed that a compromise had been reached with agreement on a joint scheme but this now proved illegal. Proper course ‘Naturally the Shipley Council regret that a joint application is not allowable,’ said the paper’s leader- writer, who had been deeply suspicious that Bradford had been
trying to control Shipley by stealth. ‘They have now decided that the proper course to be pursued is for each authority to make its own application with an understanding that where boundary areas are affected there should be an arrangement whereby the various schemes would be submitted in such form that there would be no disagreement in regard to development. ‘So far as Shipley Council is concerned, an application will no doubt be made for permission to prepare a town-planning scheme and it is probable that Bingley and Clayton will follow suit.’
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