PUTTING ON THE CLOOK

Evening Star, Issue 14515, 5 November 1910, Page 11

PUTTING ON THE CLOOK

DAYLIGHT SAVING IN FAVOR. PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE IDEA. (By William Willett, Author of the Bill.) The Daylight Saving Bill, -which, when first introduced into Parliament, was received in anything but a serious manner, has passed through several stages. It was subjected to full investigation in 1908 by a select committee of the House of Command, who reported favorably, subject to certain amendments. The BUI was accordingly .amended and reintroduced, the second reading in the House of Commons being carried by 130 to 94 on the sth March, 1909. Even now people do not appreciate the advantages which would follow the passing of the Bill. It has been described by some as an "early rising" Bill, and thereby a faiso impression has been created. It is true that the Bill would caueo people to rise an hour nearer to 6unnso than they do now, but tho clock time of getting out of bed would bo tho same after the passing of the Bill as it is at present. Everyone would have just as many houre in bed and just as many hours out of bed as they have hitherto had. —Longer Hours of Leisure.—

Tho intention of tho Bill is to give moro daylight during the leisure hours, which to the great majority of people come only at tho end of the day, and this the Bill as originally introduced into the House of Commons proposed to do, by moving forward the hands of the clock twenty minutes at 2 a.m. on each of tho first four Surtdavs in April, and putting them back twenty minutes on each of the four Sundays in September. The Select Committee of 1903 recommended that in the placo of the four changes of twenty minutes thero should be one change of an hour forward on the third Sunday mornin" in April, with a similar movement backward on the third Sunday morning ir. September. The hour chosen for the alteration—two o'clock in tho morning—was selected for several reasons, not tho least being that it is the most convenient timo for tho railway companies, ae there arc very few trains running at that time. In actual practice, eo faT as private individuals are concerned, the alteration of clocks and watches will tako place on going to bed on the night of tho change. Those who forgot to make it are not likely to suffer much (if any) inconvenience, as the following day is a Sunday. —Business World Would Benefit.— That thero is a great demand for the Bill can be judged from the fact that resolutions in support of it have been passed by 144 corporations and town councils, also the Convention of Royal Burghs of Scotland (representing 199 towns), with a total population equalling over sixteen million people, by the conference of Urban District Councils of Engiand and Wales when over 200 councils were represented, and by forty-six Chambers of Commerce, including tho Associated Chambers of Commerce at their moetini!6 in London on "3rd March, 1909 and 15th March, 1910, when about 117 Chambers were represented. Tho passing of the resolutions by those Chambers would seem to be convincing evidenco of tho fact that the business world does not share tho fear that is held by some people as to the disorganisation which would arise bv the operation of a Daylight Saving Act.. The Bill has also received tho approval of forty trado unions representing all classes of workers, having a membership of nearly a quarter of a million. Numerous business, political, and other associations, societies, golf clubs, rifle clubs, bowling clubs, and other clubs established in connection with sports and recreation havo also passed resolutions approving of UlO Bill, and are anxious to seo it passed. —Government Departments in Sympathy.— Several Government departments, and J also somo hundreds of large business firms, I realising the benefits to be obtained by the alteration of the hours, have not waited for tho Bill to pass, but havo voluntarily advanced their time of commencing and leaving off businesi by one hour during tho summer period, a chango which has in almost every case beeu heartily welcomed and appreciated by the employees. In some of theso case's, of couree, tho chango has given rise to some inconvenience because 0/ the fact that business houses with whom they havo relations observe the old times, but tho advantages havo been considered of sufficient importance to outweigh theso disadvantages, which in their turn will disappear when tho proposals of the Bill are universally adopted. With all this support it is natural that I should tako the moat liopeftri view ol tho chances of tho Bill becoming law. I havo received promises of support from a groat number of members of Parliament, and accordingly an endeavor will be made to introduce "a similar Bill into Parliament this year. —Colonial "Daylight"' Bills.—

Similar Bills have been introduced into the- Parliaments of tho United States of America, Canada, Newfoundland, NewZealand, and Victoria (Australia). The Canadian Bill was referred to a Select Committee, who have taken a great deal of evidence, and have reported strongly in favor of the. adoption of tho Bill in Canada. Tho Newfoundland Bill has passed the Upper House of the Legislative Council, and been 6ent down to tho Lower House, where it has passed a second reading and been referred to a Select Committee. By a report recently received from Victoria it appears that the Bill has been considered by a Select Committee, who recommend its adoption even though other States in tho Commonwealth do not fall into line, and it has now been referred to the next Conference of State Premiers. There is therefore ©very prospect of the Bill becoming 'aw in one'or other of these countries.

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