DAYLIGHT SAVING BILL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1867, 29 September 1913, Page 5

DAYLIGHT SAVING BILL.

Sir, —I should like to make a few remarks, with your permission, on tho much-discussed Daylight Saving Bill, and to point out the good points in same to both town and country folks alike, and at the same time I challenge all and sundry to point out any bad points in the Bill, i'lrst, 99 people out of every 100 do not rise until t-liey are duty bound/ to do so, simply for the reason that very few havo a liking for turning out before compelled to do so; and personally- I am one of those, yet I claim to be a fair riser all the same. I find it just as difficult to get up at V a.m. as at 8 a.m., or even at a later hour. The lack in early rising is to a large extent caused by late hours at night, for to bo able to rise refreshed ono requires a natural amount of 6leep. Second, who is to gain by this Daylight Saving Bill ? . I say one and all,. without fear of contradiction, more especially tho working classes; also our womenfolks, who without doubt havo the greater part of the drudgery of this life. We will- one and all under this Bill rise one hour earlier t-han. at present, and will be compensated with an extra hour in tho afternoon, as work will cease at 4 o'clock proper, although our time will read 5 p.m. Now this hour,of sunshine will be enjoyed by thousands, especially in summer, and oven _in winter it would bo the means of giving , all indoor workers an opportunity of getting a little of the sun's rays—which_ in reality should be called life—for without tho sun wo should all perish. Many will say: Oh, the sun is up ini tho morning, let thoso who like it get up and enjoy it; but as I havo already said-, most of us won't get up until forced to, once up all is glorious in tho early morning. Late hours and late rising are great stumbling-blocks to gcod health, and in these days when, one hears so much about hygienic dr< ss, etc., surely wo should make ,a stvciruous effort to have this Bill passed 1 into law. lam absolutely amazed to read of country members saying it would rot suit country folks. - Who over :heard of such nonsense, for to put the entiro question in a nut s'helt.it would suit ono and all, except doctors and chemists. Tho townspeople would receive the most benefit from a health point of yiew, as they fail a" present 1 to get sufficient sunshine, which we m the country do. Now we ■' country people would benefit particularly in tho winter months by such a Bill, Tor the following reasons: —We can prepare and pa'take, of our breakfast by the aid of'artificial, light, just if . not almost-as well as by daylight, and in the-evening havo a whole hour in which to' reach home, etc. I 'l)ave known tho time when ;'n farm life when ono hour more daylight would have saved hours of 'time tho following day. This applies to such times as mustering, haymaking, etc., especially When one is engaged a. long distance from tho homestead, as one'hour more would often finish a job which'without it one would have to make a long journey back to complete it the following day. Many 'townspeoplo imagine that those in' the country that keep their clocks half an hour or ono hour fast are madi, but it is simply this: the man who keeps liis clock fast is a practical man, and they not knowing the advantages gained think him ready for the asylum. I could say much more in favour of the Bill, but fearing I have already trespassed too much on your valuable space, and thanking you in anticipation,—l am, etc., F J. RYDER. September 22, 1913.