DAYLIGHT SAVING.

No. 40 of 1916.

An Act to promote the Earlier Use of Daylight in Certain Months Yearly, and for other purposes.

[Assented to 21st December, 1916.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Daylight Saving Act 1916.

Commencement and duration.

2. This Act shall commence on a day to be fixed by Proclamation and shall continue in force for the duration of the war, and six months thereafter, but no longer.

Definitions.

3. In this Act unless the contrary intention appears “Standard time” means in the case of any State or Territory being part of the Commonwealth the standard time in that State or Territory. “Australian clock time” means in the case of any State or Territory being part of the Commonwealth the time to be observed in that State or Territory as prescribed by this Act.

Australian clock time to be in advance of standard time during certain months.

4.—(1.) Notwithstanding anything contained in any Act or State Act, from the hour of two in the morning of the day upon which this Act commences until the hour of two in the morning of the last Sunday in March next following that day, and thereafter from the hour of two in the morning of the last Sunday in September in each year until the hour of two in the morning of the last Sunday in March in the next following year, Australian clock time shall, as regards each State and each Territory being part of the Commonwealth, be one hour in advance of standard time.

(2.) In this section the expression “the hour of two in the morning” means that hour as determined by standard time.

Construction of expression of time in Acts, State Acts, &c.

5. Notwithstanding anything contained in any Act, State Act or Ordinance, whenever any expression of time occurs in any Act, State Act. Ordinance, Order in Council, Rule, Regulation, By-law, Contract (written or verbal) or Deed, or in any instrument whatsoever, and whenever doing or not doing anything at a certain time of day or night, or during a certain part of the day or night has an effect in law. such time, with respect to any period during which Australian clock time is declared by this Act to be in advance of standard time, shall (unless it is otherwise specifically stated) be held to be Australian clock time.

Act not to affect use of standard time for certain purposes.

6. Nothing in this Act shall affect the use of standard time for the purposes of astronomy, meteorology or navigation, or affect the construction of any document mentioning or referring to time in connexion with any such purpose.