SAVING DAYLIGHT AND COAL
Summer-time arrangements:--
1916 – May 21 to October 1.
1917 – April 8 to September 17.
1918 – March 24 to September 29.
Most people in the light of experience, will advance their watches and clocks this evening (rather than at two o’clock to-morrow morning) and sacrifice an hour (which shall be repaid without interest at the end of September) of relaxation or of peaceful sleep. There will be a few who will not welcome the change. For a little time the early-morning workers will be inconvenienced, for the light at five or six a.m. will be similar to the conditions of late February or early March, but the long evenings will be appreciated at once. No class will relish them more than those who are busy with the soil, for up to now it has been impossible to use the spade after the normal work of the day, and the weeks immediately upon us are of vital importance in preparing the ground for the crops which are to do so much to relieve the food situation this year.
Apart from what may be termed the social benefits of Summer-time, it has been proved conclusively that the arrangements effect a great saving in the national coal bill. But the Coal Controller asks for more. On his behalf Sir Albert Stanley, President of the Board of Trade, has forecasted many drastic changes which will have a far-reaching effect throughout the country. For the present, the Southern part of England (the line is drawn from the Wash to the Bristol Channel) is most affected, this area being most distant from the coal fields and the combing-out of the mines and transport difficulties on land and sea having increased. Gas and electricity users will be restricted to two-thirds of the quantities used last year, and the power stations supplying tramways and electric railways will be rationed.
These restrictions are in addition to those applying to the whole country. Thus there is to be no shop-window lighting. With Summer-time at hand, that will not be a very serious matter, for early closing is very general, but it would be a serious proposition in the winter months. Places of amusement are not to open before 1.30 and must close by 10.30. In these parts that will make little difference. Nor will the ban on hot meals in public eating places before 5 a.m. or after 9.30 p.m. It is London that will feel these restrictions — London, which more than any other place in Britain, is a city of late nights. Here, the great majority of people get to work early and are home in good time; there, the day begins later and ends correspondingly. It would seem, then, that London will have to make some daylight saving rules for itself in addition to the enforcements of the Summer-time Act.
It is through the threat of coal rationing for “a great part of England” and through a reduced train service “in the very near future” that the country as a whole will be most affected. The coal system would be based upon what London has been experiencing for a considerable time, whilst in the Provinces we have suffered little. The reduction of domestic supplies by 25 per cent. is forecasted. As for the trains, the passenger traffic is to be curtailed, and the running is likely to be slower. Thus the prospects of holiday travel are gloomy.
All these things point clearly enough to the shortage of labour and to the growing scarcity of essential materials. Considering the length of the war we still have a wonderful degree of comfort, but 1918 is obviously to be a severe test of patience and nerves.
[The 'combing-out' in the coal mines was the reduction in the number of miners because they were needed for military service instead.]
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