Daylight saving
Sir: I wonder whether it might be possible to provoke some discussion through your columns regarding a radical idea which I have and which, I claim, would not only make man's existence more pleasant, but also allow enormous economic saving of society's resources. Man is a diurnal animal. Upon this basis, might it not be true to say that to centre the day around 15.00 hr and the night around 03.00 hr does not afford us the most desirable use of our time. The hours chosen are based on an average getting-up time of 07.00 and bed time of 23.00. This necessitates our spending much of the available daylight hours in bed and much of the dark in action. Most jobs are better done in daylight. I would like to ask why we do not reschedule our day, by shifting the clocks three hours back and leaving them there in perpetuity. This would in no way require the changing of any timed programmes of action. We would get up on average at a time, on our present scale, of 04.00, though our watches would still indicate 07.00. Work would start at about 06.00 and finish at 15.00. Bed time would be about 08.00. If we don't wish to shift noon to 15.00, then we can merely decide to do everything three hours earlier than we do now. The change would be simple to make, we would get the best advantage from the daylight and we would save immensely on electricity.
Sir, why do we not change?
M. L. Hodgson Ardingly College, Haywards Heath, West Sussex
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