Originally published in the Manchester Guardian on 25 March 1925
The bill which proposes to make summer time a permanent institution came before Standing Committee C of the House of Commons yesterday, Mr. E. H. Turton in the chair.
Sir Henry Cautley, K.O. (C ? East Grinstead), moved an amendment to the effect that summer time should begin and end as at present. He said that with the exception of some people who thought they could not juggle with the sun and others who viewed the matter from the point of view of their own personal occupation, the bulk of the population approved of the principle of summer time. His amendment would leave the period for the commencement and termination of summer time, as at present, beginning on the third Sunday in April and finishing on the third Sunday in September.
He believed that there was a prospect that the French and Belgians would come into line with England on this matter, but he did not look upon this as a serious question. Summer time was of no benefit or use to the agricultural community. In fact, it was a detriment, and it meant that the labourers had to work an hour earlier. It meant very early rising, especially in the case of the dairy and cattle trades. Summer time was a disadvantage to every early riser in the country, but it benefited the urban population. The farming population admitted this, but they considered that the advantages accruing from having summer time early in April and October were outweighed by the disadvantages to the agricultural community, the miners, and others who rose early, and the very young and old people. To start summer time in early April would mean early-rising workers getting up in the dark. Sir Henry said Covent Garden porters hated summer time like poison.
Mr. M. Connolly (Lab. ? Newcastle-on-Tyne), speaking against summer time, said that when the summer-time question was at a fever-heat it was suggested that the originator, Mr. Willett, should be put in an asylum. "I wish he had been," said Mr. Connolly, "and kept there."
He warned the Committee that if they persisted in extending summer time the inarticulate section of the workers, which was opposed to summer time, would make itself heard, and they would kill Mr. Willett's idea altogether and drive the country back to "God's time" instead of summer time. On a division Sir Henry Cautley's amendment was defeated by 29 votes to 7. The committee adjourned until today.
[British summer time was introduced on 21 May 1916. It begins this year on 27 March.]
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2011/mar/25/archive-opponents-of-summertime-1925
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