Hudson. — On Seasonal Time. 581 



Amongst the objections which have been urged against 

 the adoption of my scheme, I shall only briefly deal with 

 those of more serious importance. A number of minor ob- 

 jections have been raised, which have simply arisen through 

 the objectors not having taken the trouble to make them- 

 selves conversant with the subject. For instance, it has been 

 urged that this scheme, if carried out, would deprive people 

 of their long winter evenings, those raising this objection evi- 

 dently having overlooked the fact that, during the seven 

 months of the year which include the winter, the time would 

 remain precisely as it is at present. 



A more reasonable objection is that regarding the altera- 

 tion of the clocks, some contending that it would be better 

 for us to alter our habits during the summer, and leave the 

 clocks alone. The reply to this is that such an alteration in 

 habits, would be wholly impracticable, as it would involve 

 endless adjustment throughout the whole of society, which 

 could never be carried out in all its detail. Meal times, 

 arrivals and departures of trains, steamers, &c., opening of 

 places of business, theatres, &c., would all have to be simul- 

 taneously altered, whereas, by moving the hands of the clock 

 in the middle of the night, all these adjustments could be 

 effected quite automatically, without disturbing in any way 

 the existing state of things. 



It has also been urged that by lengthening the hours of 

 daylight at the end of the day shopkeepers and others might 

 be tempted to extend the hours of labour for their employes. 

 This, it inay be remarked, is really a side question which has 

 already been specially dealt with by legislation, and although 

 there are at present nearly two hours' daylight after closing- 

 time in summer, I am not aware that any systematic attempt 

 has been made to lengthen the hours of labour in summer on 

 this account. The milkmen, and other persons who have to 

 begin their work very early in the morning, would undoubtedly 

 suffer under my scheme, as they would have to start their 

 duties in the dark of early morning almost the entire year 

 through. As these persons, however, constitute a very small 

 minority in the social community, it is not to be expected that 

 their personal comfort or convenience would be allowed to 

 interfere with the adoption of the scheme if it were found to 

 be beneficial to the large majority. 



The kerosene, gas, and electric - light companies would 

 also suffer severely under the proposed system ; but, owing to 

 the saving of artificial light, the rest of the community would 

 gain what they would lose ; and it is doubtful whether their 

 interests could be fairly considered against the combined in- 

 terests of all the rest of the community. It is also likely that 

 during the five months the scheme was in operation indoor 



