13 MARCH 1909, Page 2

On Friday week in the House of Commons Mr. Dobson

moved the second reading of his Daylight Saving Bill, which practically embodies Mr. Willett's well-known proposal. The Bill provides that from the third. Sunday in April until the third Sunday in September local time Fla 1 1 be one hour in advance of Greenwich mean time in Great Britain and of Dublin mean time in Ireland. The object, of course, is to obtain longer hours of leisure while there is still daylight after the working-day. The scheme wins more support as time passes. The Times, for example, has abandoned its opposition, and now agrees to the proposal in principle. Mr. Dobson explained that he had the support of the City Corporation and many Chambers of Commerce. It was also pointed out in the debate that some of the chief railway companies approved the Bill, and that the Post Office raised no serious objections. Mr. Holt, who served on the recent Committee, moved the rejection of the Bill, declaring that it would make us the laughing-stock of Europe. Mr. Courthope said that all agricultural organisations strongly disapproved of the plan. Agriculturists would be grossly inconvenienced. The Govern- ment attitude was one of benevolent neutrality, but Mr. Churchill blessed the Bill on his own behalf. Eventually the Bill was referred to a Select Committee.