The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1939. THE FIXED CALENDAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1939. THE FIXED CALENDAR.

Tire International Eixed C'alendai League has become hopeful of the perpetual calendar for all nations being adopted in 1933. Lnder the nev style, Easier Sunday would recur annually on April loth.; AY hit Sunday, June Bth.; Christmas Day, always on a .Monday; ancl Leap Day, June 29th. Every month would be of 28 days, opening on a Sunday. The extra month to complete the year, it is proposed should be styled “Sol,” and lie tne mid-month of the year, following June. According to some literature ilsnued lately by the League headquarters at London the movement to reform the calendar has scored a signal victory in the United States as a. result of the referendum on the question recently completed by the Chamber of Commerce of the United States among its'two thousand member Chambers and Trade Associations. Tilled recommendations of the Chamber’s Committee on Calendar Deform were submitted and the vote with the following results was officially announced, December 7th. after completion of the tin a 1 canvass:—(l) The Committee recommends that the present calendar should be so changed that there will he greater comparability in business records for periods from year to year—l."B() votes in favour, 1197 opposed. (2) The Committee recommends that the form which changes in the calendar should take should lie determined through international conference —1831 votes in favour, 9921 opposed. (3) The Committee recommends that the Government of the United States should participate in an international conference to determine the form of changes to he made in the calendar — lhOo votes in favour, 880 opposed. As will he seen by the above, the first prnnusition received a substantial majority, and the set end and third majorities of two-thirds. Under the rules of the C : hamber of Commerce of the Untied St vies governing referendum?., the Chamber is commilted to the second and third recommendations because of having received the necessary two-thirds majority. While it is unable to take an official position on the first recommendation, the loaders oi the calendar-reform movement in the United Stales point to an analysis ol

the vote which shows that while many were not decided on the question ol changing the calendar, nevertheless, they cast their votes in favour oi an international conference to consider the question. The form of the calendar mainly in favour is that indicated above, and known as the “fixed calendar.” There will be thirteen months m each year, each month being of 23 days. This will give a total of 364 days. The one clay beyond the 5-J complete weeks in every year, called “Peace-Sabbath” will follow December 28tli. and be dated December 29th. 1 his will be an international holiday, devoted to the League of Nations as a symbol of international nuclei standing and goodwill. In Leap-years the second o.\trn day will be cullc-d “LeapDay”’ which will come between June 4.OLb. and Sol Ist. and be'dated June 29tli. This will also be an international holiday. It is considered there wiii lie in,any. advantages to be derived from the months of equal length, and the uniformity which will result. According to the League circular it is hoped that this new calendar will be adopted as from .January Ist. 1933, the next year to begin on a Sunday, and that Easter Sunday and Whit Sunday will thereafter he “fixed” events falling on April 15th. and June Sen. (new style) respectively. Christmas Day will always fall on Monday, December 23rd (this being the equivalent date to the present December 25th) instead of changing in each successive year, The Fixed Calendar League 'is also optimistic enough to believe the reform 1 ■ it advocates can be achieved, if the League of Nations is placed in the position to convene the proposed “International Conference" to decide upon the best method to adopt, after the reports of the “National Committees” have been received.