Less Lighting In Whangarei Shops, Public Buildings

Northern Advocate, 27 May 1941, Page 3

Less Lighting In Whangarei Shops, Public Buildings

T? EDUCTION OF LIGHTING IN SHOPS AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS, WHICH IT IS HOPED TO PUT INTO EFFECT IN WHANGAREI BY NEXT FRIDAY EVENING, WERE FULLY EXPLAINED BY THE WHANGAREI LIGHTING CONTROLLER (MR. W. J. DAWSON) TO A MEETING OF BUSINESSMEN. 'The meeting was convened at Mr. Dawson’s request by the Whangarei'Chamber .of Commerce, the president (Mr. VV. J. Court) expressing the appreciation ot businessmen at the manner m u no i Mr. Dawson had endeavoured to consider them. Efforts in the past, however, had not been sufficient, to meet the requirements of the authorities, and in reducing lighting further businessmen should give Mr. Dawson 100 per cent, co-operation. Pl‘ it was felt that the reduction when _ carried out was too drastic, recourse could be made to the authorities.

Not Sufficient

“I must express my appreciation of the manner in which the business people have met me in rather an unpleasant task,” said Mr Dawson. “I have endeavoured to tedhie street lighting and to affect the business people as little as possible, but the powers that be think that Is not sufficient. On receiving irSforrrfcation from the Navy authorities that the glare was still discernible, even after street lighting had been reduced, l asked shopkeepers to reduce their lighting by 50 per cent and I received co-operation except in one or two cases.”

in the same class as illuminated signs, and disconnected or switched off at sunset.

Certain shop fronts, such as many milkbars and tobacconists, had completely open fronts, and the flood of light would have to be reduced. Unless the shopkeeper could employ an altered means of lighting, there was no alternative but that the shop front must be fitted with a screen extending from ceiling to pavement. Where shops, such as those of fruiterers, used high-wattage lamps to light the displays, the lighting must be treated as signs, and disconnected or switched off at sunset. Radio Station Contention

Mr Dawson detailed correspondence between the Dominion Lighting Controller (Mr Kissel) and himself. He had been advised the Navy had reported that the glare from Whangarei lights was visible 40 miles from the heads, or 60 miles from Whangarei itself, and he had then reduced 4000 candle-power street lights to 32 and 50 candle-power. Still Visible At Sea

“With the co-operation of shopkeepers, these restrictions can be carried out, and when all are treated alike I do not think there will be cause for complaint,” said Mr. Dawson. “If dulling shop windows is all with which we have to contend in Whangarei, we will be treated lightly.” Mr. Dawson said he had heard it contended that dimming; of lighting was of little use while broadcasting stations continued to operate, thereby assisting enemy raiders. He quoted an official statement that to ascertain direction and position from a radio station was not as easy as it seemed, and was not of particular value, as a raider would have to come too close to the coast to definitely fix its bearings. Car Regulations Referring to the headlamps of motor vehicles, Mr. Dawson said that if regulations came into force, metal shrouds would not likely be used. He had no information on any actual measures contemplated, but if the system was similar to that used in England, headlamps would be blacked over except for a small circle the size of a haltpenny which would be painted white on the inside. Lights thus treated threw a beam of light for 30 yards but were invisible at 100 yards. In England, yellow fog-lamps were also permitted conditional on their being switched off immediately an alert was sounded.

Early this month he had been advised that sky glow was visible for 30 miles at sea and that further reductions would have to be made. In response, he had reduced street lighting further and also shop lighting and had advised the controller that in his opinion the glow had been from the cement mills and wharf at Portland where a ship had been loading on the night mentioned. He had also suggested to the controller that further reports on Whangarei lighting should be made on a Friday night when the weekly late night was observed.

Before the meeting he had received a further letter from the controller stating that the Navy had been asked for a report and pointing out that shop lighting was not essential to public safety and that if it were reduced it might be possible to ease the restrictions on street lighting.

Mr Dawson read a circular letter from the controller stating that in most areas sky glow was still a troublesome factor, notwithstanding the reduction in street lighting and the restriction in the use of other exterior lighting.

Answering a question by a church representative, Mr. Dawson said that windows causing glare would have to be covered by paper, paint, or opaque curtains.

Must Be Reduced “In contrast to the now darkened surroundings, shop windows apparently are much brighter and the combined direct and reflected light spilled on the pavements and streets offsets to a marked degree the value of the measures already taken to reduce the exterior lighting,” continued the circular. “Before other steps are contemplated it is clear . that shop window lighting must receive particular attention.”

Painted Windows Green holland blinds probably would be sufficient to cover windows to which they were properly fitted. Regarding the area round blinds through which it was often possible to discern light, Mr. Dawson said the Public Works Department in Whangarei had been instructed to paint a 6‘in. black strip round the edge of windows, making the blinds fully effective.

Investigation of requirements in sky glow areas had been drawn up and would apply except to shops facing the open sea which must continue to remain blacked out, it was stated. Therefore it was required that all lighting controllers should standardise in line with the following recommendations: Shielding, Lighting Power

Archdeacon PI. T. Steele > said he thought the whole question was glare in the sky. He could not credit that a light in a shop window or in church for an hour on Sunday was going to make a glare, he said. It was probable that more people would be killed by motor cars when lights were dimmed than by raiders. Asked by Mr. Steele if he had any discretion in interpreting the requirements, Mr. Dawson said he had none whatever. Glare Outside Town

(1) All shop ■ window light sources to be shielded by means of a pelmet of an opaque material or paint so that —(a) the light sources cannot be seen from any position in the street, and (b) direct light from the sources is confined to the interior of the window.

Mr. L. G. Michaels questioned whether it was a matter of glare on the streets or glare in the sky.- Replying, Mr. Dawson quoted the circular letter stating that while requirements might appear drastic, shop lighting was not essential to public safety, and by reducing them some restoration of street lighting might be possible. “Last Friday night I went to the hills round Whangarei and I found there was glare,” said Mr. Dawson. “From some business premises it was most noticeable. You have to get out of the town to learn just how much glare there is.” “Have we to go to the expense of darkening the windows of the churches where there is little lighting?” asked Mr. Steele. “To do so seems a farce, as there is no glare from the windows.” Mr. Dawson: Each will have to be judged on its merits. Mr. Steele: That is more satisfactory. We are looking for a way out. Skylight Danger

(2) The brightness of the shop windows to be such that the value of reflected light therefrom as measured in the street on a vertical plane 4ft above street level and at a distance of 6ft from the window line does not exceed l-10th foot candle. (3) The maximum size of an individual shop window light source is not to exceed in light output that of a 60 watt or 50 candlepower lamp.

Details concerned with the restrictions as they affected various types of windows were given in the circular and explained by Mr Dawson. Spacing Shedule ,It was explained in the circular that a simple design of instrument capable of measuring as low as l-10th foot candle was being produced and it was hoped these would be available at low cost, enabling wardens to keep a check on window lighting. In the meantime a schedule had been drawn up giving the minimum spacing between reflectors with different sizes of lamps. The schedule applied to windows fitted with some form of overhead mirror reflectors and in an average number of cases would give results approximating what was required.

Mr. Dawson said he thought church windows would be covered at little expense, especially by the use of paint. He would inspect the lighting from church windows next Sunday evening.

The schedule provided as follows: —Minimum spacing between lamps, lft 9in; lamp size, 15watt; 3ft, 25watt; 6ft, 40 watt; 10ft, 60 watt. Shallow windows with light-coloui’ed dressings, certain jewellers’ windows with mirror backgrounds, and some high and deep windows with light walls and backgrounds would require spacings wider than scheduled. Treated as Signs

Skylights in buildings also constituted factors which must be given attention, continued Mr. Dawson. The shading of lights might not be sufficient as the glare might be reflected back again towards the ceilings. Questioned regarding the lack of lighting in Mill Road, Mr. Dawson said that further lights had been provided for under the street lighting scheme, and would have been installed if it had not been for the restrictions.

Where shop frontages were much in excess of 10ft., shopkeepers might elect to use one or more high-wattage lamps instead of a distributed number of smaller lamps, and as this was undesirable, it had been decided to obviate this by fixing a limit of 60 watts or its equivalent. Dealing with lights in entrances to shops and under verandahs, other than signs, the circular stated that these lights were partly utility and partly decorative, but the use of them would, in most instances, defeat the object of reduced window brightness. Consequently all such lights must be placed

For Public Safety Replying to a further question regarding the lighting inside shops, he said that it was of no use reducing lighting in windows if there was to be glare from lighting inside shops. He proposed circularising electrical firms in Whangarei with copies of the controller's requirements, and then they could work with business firms in effecting the necessary reductions. “We all agree that the restrictions are merely for public safety, and, as Mr. Dawson remarked, we will be fortunate if all we have to do is re-

duce lighting,” said Mr. R. Tudehope. ‘•I thought the restrictions were going to be drastic, but it all seems simple. We only want to know what he have to do and we will do it gladly and cheerfully.”

Example Inspected ‘‘Nobody is more keen than I am to have these restrictions lifted as soon as it is possible,” replied Mi'. Dawson. “We will lose a lot of revenue.” Mr. Tudehope: There speaks the Scotsman. The appreciation of businessmen for the efforts made by Mr. Dawson on their behalf was 'expressed by Mr. Court, who also thanked him for explaining requirements. Mr. Dawson said that Mr. Court had co-operated with him in arranging window lighting at his own premises, in accordance with requirements, and businessmen concluded the meeting by inspecting the work carried out and its effect. The consensus of opinion was that the restrictions still permitted adequate display of goods.