526 aiNFERENCE OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 



alterations were made by Government Proclamation only, and no 

 difficulty whatever arose therefrom, it is clear, therefore, that 

 a similar method might be adopted now, thus saving the incon- 

 venience and delay inevitably connected with special legislation. 



Mr. H. G. Nitch, representative of the Association of Mine 

 Managers, in seconding the resolution, said that his Association 

 was in favour of the resolution as it stood. 



Professor Lehfeldt referred to the arguments, already 

 quoted, which had previously influenced the Government, and 

 thought that they were very strong ones. It was a fact that 

 the majority of the white inhabitants of the Union lived in the 

 country, and to put the clock ahead for them would not cause 

 them any benefit, and the (jovernment might think the change 

 would cause inconvenience. He thought it impolitic to send for- 

 ward this resolution, on which differences of opinion existed, 

 with the resolutions on the Metric System and Decimal Coinage, 

 on which they were mianimously agreed. He did not think the 

 scheme would suit the inhabitants of Cape Town, where, owing 

 to the geographical position of the town, the clock was already 

 advanced iforty-six minutes. 



Mr. Chappel pointed out that when the proposal was put 

 before a meeting of the Associated Chambers of Commerce. 

 Cape Town was doubtful at first, but finally agreed to it. The 

 Cape Times might be cited as strongly in favour of the new 

 scheme. 



The Chairman mentioned the fact that at the annual meet- 

 ing of the South African Association for the Advancement of 

 Science, held at Maritzburg in July, 1916, this same resolution 

 was proposed by Mr. R. T. A. Innes, Union Astronomer, and 

 was approved of unanimously at a combined meeting of sections, 

 and at a later date confirmed practically unanimously by the 

 Council of the Association, which has many rcjiresentatives at 

 Cape Town. 



After further discussion the resolution was put to the vote, 

 and carried with two dissentients. 



Mr. H. Clark, B.Sc, representing the Natal Society for 

 the .Advancement of Science, proposed the following resolution: 



That ill order to make the Metric System aiul its advantages more 

 .a:enerally known in South Africa, the following steins he taken : — 



(a) That popular lectures he given in the larger towns explaining the 

 system and enunurating its advantages, at which lectures local 

 memhers of Parliament he asked to preside. 



{b) That Municipalities he circularised and asked to purchase com- 

 plete sets of commercial metric weights and measures for inspec- 

 tion. 



((•) That a hooklet, specially written for South .\frican use. he pre- 

 pared for free circiilatii)n or at a nominal I'lgure. 



Air. P. Cazalct, South African Association of Kngineers, 

 .seconded the resolution, which, he stiggested, might take the 

 tform of a recommendation to l)e dealt with by the Council of 

 the South African Association for the Advancement of Science, 

 Vv-hich had taken the initiative in the Conference. 



