SUMMER TIME CHANCES

Evening Star, Issue 19660, 13 September 1927, Page 12

SUMMER TIME CHANCES

m SIOEY DISCUSSES PROSPECT FAVORABLE COUNCIL MAJORITY PITFALLS ALWAYS POSSIBLE. (TEOM On« I’ARLIAMENTAP.Tf IiEI'OUTEE] WELLINGTON, September 12. Though 'the tariff is the important Government item of the week in parliamentary circles, there will probably bout least as much public interest in the Summer Time Bill, which reaches its crucial stage on Wednesday under an arrangement made by the Prime Minister-when the stonewall by its opponents was so dramatically suspended through the death of tho late Alinistcr of Internal Affairs.

Air Sidey, whose perseverance seems to have reached the point of success in securing the experiment for daylight saving in New Zealand, was asked by your correspondent to sum .ip the present position. He pointed out, in reply, that, had he not postponed the measure in accordance with the Premier’s undertaking, he would have had a chance last Wednesday to bring it forward. However, there was no necessity, as he felt sure it would be dealt with in committee during the coming Wednesday. “Meanwhile,” he continued, “the Railway Department has been making investigations into the possibility of meeting the objections regarding the early running of cream trams. There are some trams, not a great mi in la r, which cause a difficulty—where they are also passenger trains, and particularly where they take children to school, and there is not another train following. A conference will take place on Tuesday between myself, the railway officers, and Mr Glenn, representing the objectors, at which the whole situation will bo discussed. I understand that there are few situations which cannot he met by delaying a train or putting on another.

“If tno opposition continues, ivnat will happen?” Mr Sidey was asked. His answer was that he had all along felt that the period of operation of summer time was one in which there was so much daylight' that even if there was one hour less between dawn and the train, there would still be ample daylight to meet the ordinary requirements of the dairying industry in every district. It was also found that now that milking utensils were so thoroughly sterilised milk would keep sweet a much longer time than was formerly the case, and the greater part of the milk which caught the earlier trains was milked the evening before. “ Only by actual practice can the advantages and the slight disadvantages of the system be tested,” added Mr Sidey. “I am prepared not to start until the first Sunday in November, and then the scheme ends on the third Sunday in February Thus it_ would be tried under conditions involving the least possible hardship, as the four months providing the longest daylight are from mid-October to mid-Feb-ruary.” LEGISLATIVE PROSPECTS.

‘ I have often said, when asked about the legislative prospects, that the greatest difficulty is to get the Rill to the Upper House. Many think that is not difficult owing to the big majority for it in the Lower House, but there is always difficulty in the path of a private member seeking to get a Bill through, not only in the task of selecting suitable dates for discussion, but in getting the Bill on at all. Then one has to surmount difficulties which a minority can impose by obstruction. It was only the loyalty of its supporters aud the strong backing of _ public opinion which got the Bill to its present hopeful stage.” COUNCIL MAJORITY ASSURED.

“Assuming that the pitfalls of the Lower House are overcome, what will be its prospect in the Legislative Council this session? ” Mr Sidoy was asked. Ho replied in highly hopeful terms. “ The chances of the- Bill in the Council are much bettor than last year. fn the first place there are no such difficulties to be encountered by private members as are experienced in the Lower House, merely to get the opportunity for consideration. The second important fact is that there has been a change in the personnel of the Council in its favor. At 'east three or four councillors who were in the Old Country last year are in New Zealand today, and all are in favor_ of the Bill, which they have seen in successful operation Some of them were so keen to see it working in New Zealand that they cabled for pairs on its favor. Last session these were not available, otherwise the Bill would have been passed a year ago, and we would have had a trial last summer. There arc also some councillors who opposed the Bill last session who declare that they will no longer stand in the way of its becoming'daw if the elected House again sends it forward, as they recognise that they have a constitutional duty in the matter cf giving expression to the definite wish of the people, expressed through their representatives, the Bill having been passed in the Lower House three times. It must bo admitted that the strength of public opinion favoring daylight saving is far greater than ever before. Successive defeats in the Legislature have strengthened the support in the country, and probably the most important factor is the success of the scheme in Britain.”

“ Although there are all sorts of parliamentary pitfalls, I really think,” concluded Mr Sidey, “that at Inst the Summer Time Bill lias a good prospect of becoming law.