31 JANUARY 1941, Page 5

The idea of improving so-called summer-time by moving the clock

on two hours instead of one is being seriously considered in Whitehall, not least by Mr. Bevin's department. The argu- ments in favour are pretty obvious. Either offices and shops could work an hour later than they do at present, or their employees would have an hour longer to get home in before the blitz ; probably the hour might be split between the two desiderata—half an hour to each. There would be some economy in *gas and electricity, for after a certain date less would be required in the later mornings than would be saved in the later evenings. It would undeniably be hard on farmers and other early workers who have been looking forward with intelligible relief to the prospect of beginning in daylight. But the balance seems in favour of the extra hour.