1916-06-29oo

 

       “The protests of the workers against the daylight-saving scheme and those who framed it have not been altogether in vain.”

Hamilton Herald.   June 29, 1916.

It had been tried for the first time in Hamilton the previous year, but when it was about to be continued again in 1916, opposition was strong.

Municipalities had been given the option of agreeing to the Daylight Saving scheme or not agreeing to it.

In 1915, Hamilton City Council had agreed to give it a trial, particularly as the idea had seemed to be successful in Great Britain, France and many other European countries, as well as in several cities in the United States.

However, as reported in the Hamilton Herald of June 29, 1916, there was concerted opposition to another imposition of Daylight Saving time:

“Members of the city council, during the last few days, have had it forcibly impressed upon them  that ‘shoving the hands of the clocks ahead one hour and forgetting about it’ wasn’t so easy and so wonderfully successful as they prophesied. The aldermen have a healthy idea that it has proved a sorry fizzle, and that its continuation might have a buzz-saw effect next election day.”¹

¹“Get Plebiscite on Daylight Saving.”

Hamilton Herald.   June 29, 1916.

Alderman Hodgson who had suggested the day-light saving scheme to council in 1915 publicly admitted that he had been “severely panned and criticized for being the one who had started the “fad”:

“ ‘There is a great deal of dissatisfaction in my ward and throughout the entire east end,’ said the alderman this morning. ‘I do intend to add one iota to the burden of the workingmen, and, now that it has proven a burden, I will admit that we have made a mistake.’ ”¹