Daylight Saving Act 1916

[potty5]

Can anyone explain the main benefits of the Daylight Savings Act brought in in May 1916. I can't seem to get my head round it?????

[dfaulder]

The original idea was set out in the "waste of daylight" http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/willett.html by William Willett.

HTH

David Faulder

(great-great nephew of William Willett - via an adoption!)

[auchonvillerssomme]

Heres some interesting debates, plenty more there.

from 1908

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1909/mar/05/daylight-saving-bill#S5CV0001P0_19090305_HOC_3

April 1914

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1914/apr/02/daylight-saving-bill#S5CV0060P0_19140402_HOC_179

Feb 1916

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1916/feb/17/daylight-saving-bill

March 1916

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1916/mar/07/daylight-saving-bill#S5CV0080P0_19160307_HOC_195

[Tony Lund]

This is from the Holmfirth Express 1916, who say it was put out by the Home Office:

“Important Alteration of Time. On the night of Saturday/Sunday, May 20/21, at 2 a.m., the time on all railways, at all Post Offices, and other Government establishments, will be put forward by one hour to 3 a.m. The altered time will be used for all ordinary purposes during the summer. For instance, licenced houses, factories and workshops, and all other establishments where hours are regulated by law, will be required to observe the altered time.

“The Government requests the public to put forward all clocks and watches by one hour during the night of Saturday, May 20. Normal time will be restored at 2 a.m. on the night of Saturday/Sunday, September 30/October 1.

“The chief object of this measure at the present time is to reduce the number of hours during which artificial lighting is used in the evenings, and so save to the nation part of the fuel and oil used for lighting, and release large quantities of coal, which are urgently needed for other purposes arising from the war.”

Tony.

[potty5]

This is from the Holmfirth Express 1916, who say it was put out by the Home Office:

“Important Alteration of Time. On the night of Saturday/Sunday, May 20/21, at 2 a.m., the time on all railways, at all Post Offices, and other Government establishments, will be put forward by one hour to 3 a.m. The altered time will be used for all ordinary purposes during the summer. For instance, licenced houses, factories and workshops, and all other establishments where hours are regulated by law, will be required to observe the altered time.

“The Government requests the public to put forward all clocks and watches by one hour during the night of Saturday, May 20. Normal time will be restored at 2 a.m. on the night of Saturday/Sunday, September 30/October 1.

“The chief object of this measure at the present time is to reduce the number of hours during which artificial lighting is used in the evenings, and so save to the nation part of the fuel and oil used for lighting, and release large quantities of coal, which are urgently needed for other purposes arising from the war.”

Tony.

Thanks for that Tony, the final part of the piece is the part that I needed to understand. Cheers!

[COSergeant]

The concept of daylight saving has been around for centuries. Benjamin Franklin wrote An Economical Project, his discourse on the thrift of natural versus artificial lighting, while in Paris in 1784. http://www.webexhibi...in.html

Daylight Saving came up in conversation with an elderly man some years ago. When he was a boy, he remembered the grumbling and rancor of the general populace over the change. Many were caught off guard, others simply couldn't understand it, and some accused the Gov't of being in cahoots with the devil because they were "changing time" as prophesied by Daniel. His memory was that it was adopted so factory workers went to work earlier and had more daylight in the evening to tend their gardens.

[brianmorris547]

From the War diary of 1/5 Loyal North Lancs 14/06/1916:

Daylight Saving Bill came into operation for the British Army in France. All clocks were put forward one hour at 11.00 pm.

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

The purpose of the Act is not to save daylight.

It is to demonstrate to the public that the government controls all aspects of our lives.

So on a Sunday in late March each year, they command all citizens to get up an hour earlier than usual, and to continually do so each day thereafter until a Sunday in late October, when they tell us to stay in bed an hour later every day until the following Spring.

And we all do so meekly and uncomplainingly.

And if the government can tell us when to go to bed, and when to get up again, then they can do whatever they like to us.

[robins2]

as the wise north american indian explained: only a white man could cut the top off a blanket, and then sew it on the bottom and say we now have a longer blanket?