DAYLIGHT SAVING BILL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 283, 24 August 1908, Page 10

DAYLIGHT SAVING BILL.

REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE. EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSALS. Tho Select Committee of the House of Commons, which was appointed to consider the Daylight Saving Bill, reports thus:— "The Committee find that the Bill purposes tile adoption of a local timo in advance of Greenwich mean timo in the caso of Great Britain, and in advance of Dublin meau time in the caso of Ireland, during tho summer months—viz., from April to September .in each year, with the object of promoting the earlier and more extended use and enjoyment of daylight during those months. , And that such object is desirable and would benefit tho community if it can be generally attained, and that tho weight of the evidence submitted to tho Committee agrees with and supports this view, though there was divergence of opinion as to tho best mode of accomplishing it. THE ADVANTAGES. "The paramount advantage the Committee find to be-the greater use of daylight during tho months named. "The effect of the proposals of tho Bill would be:— " (1) To move tho usual hours of work and leisure nearer to sunrise. _ " (2) To promote tho greater use of da> light for recreative purposes of all kinds. " (3) To lessen tho use of licensed 'houses. "(4) To "facilitate tho training of the Territorial Forces. "(5) To benefit Uho physique, general health, and. welfare of all classes of tho community.. "(6) To reduce the industrial, commercial, and domestic expenditure on artificial light. " The Committee agree that the objects proposed cannot be attained without legislation. _ " And that a- single Act establishing local time for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is better than an Act severally altering all tho times prescribed by various Acts, by-laws, and other rules ■ for tho conduct of civil business.. \ " And that the interference with European traffic will be inappreciable compared with tho general benefit to tho nation at large, and can be easily overcome. " And that the interference with American business can bo obviated without serious dislocation or loss by the ■ adherence of thoso concerned to their present hours when necessary.

And that the various interests affected could, without much initial difficulty, adapt themselves to the alteration.

COMMITTEE'S SUGGESTIONS.

, "For the sake of simplicity and general public convenience the Committee find that a single alteration of one hour in April and a similar alteration of one hour in September is tho best mode of attaining tho object of tho Bill. .

And the Committee recommend: that theso changes should take place at 2 o'clock in the morning, Greenwich mean time in tho case of Great Britain, and Dublin mean tima in tho case of Ireland, on the third Sunday in April, and at 2 o'clock in tho morning, Greenwich mean time in the case of Great Britain, and Dublin mean time in the case of Ireland, on the third Sunday in September of each year.

" Tho Committee find there is no serious practical difficulty in adjusting clocks and watches to-these seasonal changes. "The Committee consider that the Bill should be called tho Local Time (Great Britain and Ireland) Bill. "The Committee consider that no interferenco with Greenwich mean time should be attempted, and that for all scientific purposes, such as astronomy or ■ Greenwich mean time should continue to ba used as heretofore."