The question of whether in a town of the size of Luton trams were a necessity or merely a convenience was raised by the Military Representative in a case at the Luton Tribunal on September 27th, 1916, in which application was made for the exemption of two motormen [drivers] and an inspector.

One of the motormen, it was stated, had served with the colours in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry for nine years 206 days, and on the Reserve for seven years 159 days. He was at the Front at the time of the national registration, being discharged as time-expired with good character on February 25th last.

The tramways, it was stated, were now carrying from 55,000 to 60,000 passengers a week, this being an increase of 14,000 since the period previous to the war. Even now, a letter had been received from the Ministry of Munitions complaining of an inadequate service on one particular route, and asking for greater facilities for the people engaged at one particular works. To meet this demand a special service was being run in the early morning, as well as special cars at other parts of the day, and quite apart from this the service on all the routes was more extensive than 12 months ago.

With all these extra facilities the Company were by no means running a maximum service, simply because they could not get the men.

Mr Gardner, the Military Representative, suggested that Luton was not a very big place, and raised the question of whether trams were a necessity or a convenience. Mr Wray, the manager, contended that it was not a fair question to ask him, because it was a very broad question.

"You need not consider it necessary to answer that," said the Town Clerk [Mr William Smith]. "Parliament has decided that tramways are necessary for Luton."

Asked if he could not see any possibility of getting some disabled men, or men returned from service, for duty on the trams, Mr Wray said he could not. If Mr Gardner could send him any men who were disabled and yet fit for the work he was perfectly willing to release the present men.

"That is not my business," said Mr Gardner. "The onus is not on the military authority to to provide them, but on the employers."

Mr Wray retorted: "If the military authorities want our men they ought to try to find men for us. It's all right saying you can get men, but you can't get any man to drive our cars down hills. If we have an accident, will the military authorities be prepared to pay our expenses? As a matter of fact I have had to discharge a man this week simply because the man was not safe on the car."

After a long discussion, it turned out that the tramways were a controlled establishment and the employees could not leave without the firm's consent, except that they went straight into the Army. On this being established, Mr Gardner offered no further opposition, and conditional exemption was was allowed to each man as being in a certified occupation.

[The Luton Reporter: Monday, October 2nd, 1916]