“NO SUCH TIME”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 18 June 1936, Page 4

“NO SUCH TIME”

12 P.M. RULED OUT OF ORDER STRANGE DEFENCE UPHELD It has now been established in England that there is no such time as 12 p.m., says the “Christian Science Monitor.” A legal decision to this effect has been made in the English courts. A motorist was charged at Ketting with parking his car on the wrong side of the road, beside a sign which said distinctly that there must be no parking “between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.” The defence maintained, apparently more with humour than hope of success, that 12 p.m. is no time at all, means nothing, and is not once mentioned in an Act of Parliament. Therefore, the solicitor argued, the local council had itself committed an offence in erecting the sign. This defence was upheld. The facts were verified and it was discovered that according to law 12 p.m. just does not exist. One must say 12 midnight. For 12 a.m. one must say 12 noon. Lawyers have been arguing the case out ever since. It is pointed out that 12 p.m., although it suggests night time, is no time at all, representing zero, which is not measurable. Or, it is argued, if it is measurable then 12 a.m., 12 hours after the meridian is midnight, too. But if 12 p.m. is the opposite of 12 a.m., and'l2 a.m., is obviously midnight, then 12 p.m. is midday. But since midday is the meridian, it cannot be at the same time 12 hours after the meridian. It is felt that at last England is coming nearer to understanding why 12 p.m. has been known as the “witching hour,”