Isabel Salt gave two talks to Shipley Women’s Adult School, calling for a change of attitude to war. In the evening, the granddaughter of Sir Titus Salt, told her audience that “The word Peace has nearly gone from our vocabulary. It is now an opportune time for a great Christian push forward on the lines of peace and the abolition of war. Selfishness “War is the cause of hatred, envy fear, selfishness and greed which only tends to undermine our civilisation. “The sooner we get back to the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, the sooner we shall be able to live peaceably and harmoniously with all mankind.” Mrs Pickard, the president of the Adult School, described Miss Salt as “one who has seen a vision of a brighter time and of a better and a purer England. Those who have seen that vision cannot cease to work for the realisation of it. “When there are women like Miss Salt working for that ideal, we cannot

help but feel that there is much to be thankful for.” Miss Salt’s earlier talk had been on the subject of ‘Ideals in Wartime’ and she expressed the view that the people of the countries now at war had no quarrel with each other but that “the quarrel is between the leaders and the war parties, encouraged by the Jingo press. “While some of us have been thinking of peace in our hearts, we have at the same time all been preparing for war. “Germany pressed her preparations to the extreme extent but it is also true that military and naval preparations were in vogue in other so-called civilised countries and we cannot go on building armaments against one another without some day having to put them to use. “I hope that the old fallacy that the spending of huge sums of money on armaments is an insurance against

war has now been exploded for ever.” She concluded: “The only way to kill a wrong idea is by the spread of right ideas” and called for action that will “leave our children’s inheritance as a happier world in which they can dwell in beauty, peace and concord.” Giving a vote of thanks, Mr Alfred Dixon said, “It is a treat to hear anyone speak in a Christian church against war. Intellectual force “If we cannot, with all the religious, moral and intellectual force at our command, find a better way of settling international disputes without the destruction of human life and national wealth, we shall have to admit that Christianity has failed. “But notwithstanding all, I am an optimist and believe that is not the case. If differences which arise between nations were tackled in the right way by the leading men of all nations, no recourse to arms would be necessary. When the war is over, I believe that will be realised as never before.”

Isabel Salt calls for lessons to be learned from war

A public meeting was held at the Friendly Societies’ Hall, Shipley on Wednesday evening with the object of inaugurating a local War Savings Committee. Cllr Thomas Hill (pictured), chairman of Shipley District Council, took the chair and told the meeting that a committee had been formed in London and the government wanted the movement to spread across the country. ‘The special object of the War Savings Committee is to draw the attention of all classes of the community to a proper realisation of the present crisis and to induce everyone to economise in every direction, to save all they can and place their savings at the disposal of the nation. ‘It is not a question of taxation but merely a means of providing funds for the Government to carry on the war to a successful issue. ‘It is, at the same time, a remunerative investment. There might be one important savings association for the whole of the Shipley district or there might be a number of associations with a centre.’ He believed that in some parts of Shipley something had been done already in the direction of getting savings together for war purposes but it was now desired to have a regular organisation which would bring in all parts of the district and all classes of the community. Cllr Hill was elected as chairman of the new committee.

Committee to encourage savings

A large crowd gathered on Idle Green to see a Volunteer Force parade as part of a recruiting drive to swell declining numbers. Bradford Company Commander J H Bottomley said the motto of the Volunteer Force, which was mainly made up of men too old to serve in the regular forces, was “For Hearth and Home.” Alderman A W Brown (right), who had recently been invalided out of the front line said he was now going to help the volunteer movement in every possible way. “The movement has been of very great value already,” he said, “and has provided large numbers of capable officers and men for the regular army. Emergencies “The ranks of the volunteers are open for all unfits and for men over military age.’ He went on to criticise those who said the Volunteers would never be of any

use, adding “We have to be prepared for all emergencies in this war. “Have you read in the newspapers the account of a German submersible vessel carrying cargo worth a quarter of a million all the way across the Atlantic to America? Is that not significant? “If they can send vessels under the sea out of sight, could they not send such vessels carrying men and munitions across the North Sea to this country? “Let us be ready. Let us send a message to our men at the front that men over forty are rallying to the defence of the country. Let us send a message to the German Emperor that every man of us is doing his bit and will carry on the fight until victory for old England is won.

“Some men are living their lives as if there was no war. They do up their garden, attend their clubs and so on, but the time has come when we must account for every man. “I am disgusted with men who will not do their share at a time like this and I call upon the men of Idle over military age to be patriotic and join up at once with the Idle Company.” Women The Volunteer Force chaplain, the Rev W G McNiece, said he would advise every woman not to walk out with a man who at the present time was not in uniform. “Being in the Volunteers made old men younger and young men into men.” Commandant M Conway said that up to the present, in proportion to its population and in comparison with other districts, Idle had not done its duty. At least 230 men ought to be forthcoming for the Volunteers to help boost the national target of a total of one million men and he reminded the audience that “For every man enlisted in the Volunteers, a man in khaki can be set free to go fight at the front.”

Idle men urged to boost Volunteer Force

Baildon timber merchant William Prest Wightman found himself charged with driving a car with no front light but the case was dropped when the court heard the circumstances. Mr Newman, the defence lawyer, explained that Mr Wightman had been visiting Mr Lewis, a Guiseley grammar school teacher, along with some other gentlemen. At the end of the evening as the last train had gone, he offered to drive the other guests back to Bradford but on going outside to light the lamp, he discovered it was missing. It turned out that his man, whilst washing the car, had removed the lamp and not replaced it. Candle ‘When it was found that the lamp was missing, Mr Wightman went and borrowed a candle and he endeavoured to get as far as a motor garage in order that he could borrow another lamp. ‘He also sent a representative of the law in front in order that any oncoming vehicles might be warned that there was a car approaching in the other direction. Thus every possible precaution was taken. ‘The defendant had held a licence for a great number of years and the only endorsement on it was for a conviction for driving at a speed dangerous to the public on August 7th, 1907.’ Mr Wightman was ordered to pay the costs.

Baildon driver excused after making effort to replace missing light

Death from heart seizure

A verdict of death from natural causes was returned at the inquest of Margaret Ellen Young of Jane Hills. Her husband said that she had been troubled with heart weakness for more than a year. She suffered from periodic attacks which caused her lips to go blue. Her next-door neighbour, Mrs Hodgetts, said she had heard a noise and found Mrs Young sitting on the steps of her house. On returning with a glass of water she found that Mrs Young had managed to drag herself back into her own home. When Mrs Hodgetts asked after her, she said she was “done”. She died within a quarter of an hour before medical attention could be obtained.

A plumber’s pleas for exemption from conscription fell on deaf ears at Shipley Tribunal. He argued that he was doing important work and that it wouldn’t be easy for him to dispose of his business. “It’s not a tripe business where you can sell out in almost any time,” he said, raising laughter from the onlookers. Mr Burton, the military representative on the Tribunal told him: “We have got to keep these Germans out or else we shall never be comfortable again. That is the most necessary work.” “Suppose you had a pipe burst at your house and you were nearly swum out?” retorted the applicant. Whimper “I think if the plumber who would have mended it had gone to be a soldier, I should put up with it.” “It is all right as far as it goes, but I fancy you would think in another way.” But Mr Burton had the last word: “I think I should be prepared to endure as much as I could if it was in consequence of the fact that the man who could have helped me had gone to serve his country. You would not hear me whimper. Besides, it is no use picturing things that may not happen. Something has happened and the country is in danger.” When the chairman said enlistment would be put back to 1 October, the applicant said, “It’s practically nothing.” That brought another intervention from Mr Burton: “I should advise you to be more appreciative of the Tribunal’s consideration,” he said.

Plumber in hot water with military tribunal