Luton Town Council decided at a special meeting on Tuesday evening to apply immediately to the Home Office for an order under the Defence of the Realm Regulations for controlling public and private lighting in the town.

A resolution to this effect was passed, as an appeal made during the weekend had not been properly responded to.

The Mayor (Councillor W. J. Primett) said efforts had been made for some time past to get the lighting of the town reduced. The Highways Committee came to the conclusion during the weekend that an urgent appeal should be issued at once to the public generally. That appeal was sent out on Friday, but he was sorry to say it had not had the desired effect.

Considerable efforts had been made to get people to assist in putting the town in a state of semi-darkness, but they had failed. Anyone who visited the centre of the town on Saturday night would have seen that the condition of things was appalling.

Chief Constable Teale, his chief officers and others had made considerable efforts to induce people to support the request of the Lighting Authority for the reduction of the lighting in the town, but without success. Some people reduced their lights for the time being, but next night, or even shortly after the police had left, turned them on again, which was very unfair.

In the case of private houses, the majority of people had tried to reduce their lighting considerably, although there were some isolated cases of glaring lights. At Hart Hill matters had been improved considerably, but at the Downs, even on Saturday night, there were some very brilliant lights, and it was too bad to court disaster in that way.

Somebody would have to be the scapegoat, and as a public authority they ought to apply for an Order at once. The Mayor said he had heard no objections to an Order, and some shopkeepers would be pleased to have a compulsory order which would make everybody fall into line.

Not only the shops, but some of the factories were sadly to blame. On Monday night some factories near the centre of the town had lights blazing away in the top rooms.

Dealing with the lights at the places of worship on Sunday night, the Mayor referred to Non-conformist places in Chapel Street and Castle Street as having big outside lamps in use. This contrasted strongly with another place where the service for Friday evening was cancelled immediately the appeal was made, and blinds fixed before Sunday.

There had been an order in force at Bedford for some considerable time, although it was 20 miles farther from London, and the Mayor moved that the Council at once take steps to get a compulsory order.

The Town Clerk (Mr William Smith) read the principal terms of the St Albans Order, dated September 13th, which provide for the regulation of shop, factory, railway, street and private house light, require the abolition of all street lighting, and require all interior to be so screened that no bright light can be seen outside, and only permit such outside lighting as in the opinion of the police and military authorities is necessary for public safety.

Special provision was made in the case of armament works, but it was provided that in case of emergency an order for the extinction of the lights for which sanction was given, and which were only to be such as were necessary for safe and expeditious work, must be immediately obeyed.

There was also provision for dealing with lights of motor-cars, and the Town Clerk said that in Luton these were very serious offenders.

The penalty may be a fine not exceeding £100, or imprisonment with or without hard labour up to a maximum period of six months.

Alderman Staddon, in seconding the resolution, said he supported all the Mayor had said. The most dangerous time, in his opinion, was between seven and ten, and for that period the town should be at its utmost blackness. Aircraft were steering by compass, it was true, but lights were there greatest guide. It was the glaring lights of London that they were after, and Luton was the largest town in the area this side of Cambridge. In the interests of the public the Order ought to be obtained.

Some of the shopkeepers seemed to think pink paper over their lights, which looked pretty, was all that was necessary, or the pulling down of their ordinary roller blinds, but they would be speedily brought to their senses.

"I do not think our friends can expect anything like a nominal fine of 10 shillings if brought to the Court," continued Alderman Staddon. "That is my opinion, and if I am spared I shall have something to say about it. It will be quite beside the mark. There is no question of vindictiveness, but there must be protection of the town between those hours. The public demands it, the whole nation demands it, and whatever other towns may be doing, I think it is our duty to see we escape as far as possible."

Councillor Charles Yarrow said every reasonable person must support the resolution, as it was eminently for the welfare of the town. How would the Order affect foundries, and particularly one in the High Town district, where people were very indignant about the glare emitted from several low shafts? He did not want to put any obstacle in the way of any firm working for the Government, but surely something should be done so that this glare could not bee seen by Zeppelins if they were in the district.

The Town Clerk said he would rather not say anything about that. If the Order was obtained it should be most rigidly enforced and police court proceedings be taken against any offender. He would prefer to say nothing as to how far certain people or firms were exempt. It there were complaints after the Order was obtained, he would rather deal with them in the other place than here.

Alderman Cain: "No doubt if we get the streets darkened these places will be a still greater guide to anything above."

Councillor Henry Impey referred to one town which was put in total darkness after an air raid some time ago, and said the Zeppelins had not been in that district since. Some shopkeepers had tried to meet the requirements with regard to their windows, but left their doors open so that a glaring light was thrown across the road. The resolution was a proper step.

Councillor Arthur Attwood was sorry they were forced to take this step, and thought that if they made another appeal, and pointed out that unless if was fully responded to a compulsory order would be obtained, it would have effect.

The Town Clerk: "We actually know several cases since the notice went out where the police called at shops, and told people what was wrong and what lights should be extinguished. A quarter of an hour after the policeman was gone the lights were turned on again."

Alderman Harry Arnold said it was desirable an order should be applied for, because there were always certain people who would say they were Englishmen and free and would do as they liked.

Asked how long it would take to obtain the Order, the Town Clerk replied that he had never found the Home Office slack in these matters. In a case of this description the Order would be in terms similar to Orders already granted, and the Home Secretary might attach his signature perhaps an hour after the application was received.

It was altogether futile to obtain an Order and then treat it as waste paper. If they had an Order, he hoped the Council would see it was strictly enforced on everybody.

A concise statement of the position was given by Alderman Edwin Oakley, who strongly advocated an Order, and said it would not interfere with reasonable people and would make the unreasonable people conform. It was time they obtained an Order, and the they would have no cause for regret at having neglected a duty.

The Mayor said the Council had no business to jeopardise the lives of 55,000 people because 1,000 did not do what was necessary. That was the position.

[The Luton News: Thursday, October 21st, 1915]