STAND BY THE CLOCKS

Evening Star, Issue 19662, 15 September 1927, Page 11

STAND BY THE CLOCKS

THE STONEWALL CONTINUED [From Our Paruamextaki Eepouthr.] WELLINGTON, September 14. The parliamentary stonewallcrs made merry over Mr Sidey’s Summer Time Bill in the House to-fiight, when the committee stage was resinned at the point of tho discussion of its short title, but tho talking ordeal became rather strenuous two hours after its brisk start, when Mr F. F. Hoekly (Chairman of Committees), though known to oppose the Bill, faithfully carried out the duties of liis office by announcing, just before tho supper adjournment, that ho proposed to apply tho “ tedious repetition ” rule. “ This short title has been discussed thirteen and a-half hours,” ho announced, “ and it is ray duty to prevent the forms of tho House being abused.” Mr M'Keen: Hear, hear! The chairman, with a severe call to order, proceeded to announce that he would enforce this rule, and he would bar any further reference to hardships likely to be suffered by farmers; also to “the kindly nature of the member in charge of the Bill.” There was loud laughter. Some of the stonewall speeches rose above the level of labored effort. In brief sentences, Mr Samuel (Ohinoinuri) 'declared that tho Bill was eighteen years old; therefore, ho argued, why not leave it till nest Parliament, when it would bo old enough to vote for itself.

Tho Hon. D. Buddo, when he ventured to suggest that many farmers favored daylight saving and many others did not trouble to express any objection, was faced witli a pile of telegrams, which Mr Glenn carried across the floor of the House. These ho waived aside",' asking what half a dozen objectors mattered. Ho thought they were being misled by a minority. The Leader of. tho Opposition (Mr Holland) neatly trapped Mr Lysunr, who was » vigorous opponent of the Bill, and got into an argument with the member for Buffer, who remarked: “ I -will make a bargain with you. Move an amendment to cut olf one hour from tho tail end of tho day aud I will support you.” “I’ll move it,” shouted Mr Lysnar. “ That moans tho seven-hour day,” retorted Mr Holland, amid laughter. RAILWAY DIFFICULTIES SLIGHT. Tho Prime Minister produced a long report from the Railway Department on the situation which would arise affecting cream transit, the conveyance of children to school, and tho transit of live stock. It was in minute detail, covering oven the cases of individual suppliers. Mr Coates explained that the important consideration was not to cause such disorganisation as would prejudice dairy factories by causing suppliers to divert their cream to other factories. The only district where this might arise was, ho showed, at To Kowhata, on tho Waikato lino, involving sixty cans of cream, which might havo to bo diverted to an Auckland factory, as there was no alternative train available to the factory now supplied. South Island reports were generally favorable to the measure. Dairy managers and stock owners in and around Christchurch were interviewed, and with one exception saw no difficulties. Tho exception was the manager of tho Kiwi Dairy Company, who said his objection was personal, and did not affect the company. Dairy factory managers in the middle district were generally favorable, and, although the South Island Dairy Association had passed a resolution opposing the measure, tho secretary when interviewed could give no specific case of hardship. Sir John Luke: 1 suppose you will vote for tho Bill. Mr Atmoro; The report is generally favorable, Mr Coates: Apparently, in the South Island, but there aro some cases of difficulty in tho Waikato ami North Auckland. THE LAST STAGES OBSTRUCTIONIST HUMOR LADY PRESENT TO END-ASLEEP [pKOSI OUB PABLIAJIENTAr.T RePORTKH.] WELLINGTON, September 15. “If anyone should take_ responsibility for obstructing: the business of fills House it should bo tho member in charge of tho Bill,” declared Mr Jones (Ellesmere), speaking at 1 a.in. He likened Mr. Sidey to Napoleon, bent on conquering tho world, and everyone knew what happened to Napoleon. (Laughter.) Seven people were in the galleries at 1.10, one lining a woman, who dozed occasionally. “Would I he in order in fnoviug to report progress?” asked Mr Samuel. “No,” reped the chaimah; “you ■would not. The hbn. member has exhausted his lime.” Then, all in the bub breath, Mr Hoekly endeavored to rush the short title through, bill Mr J. C. Rolleston sprang to Ms feet and carried bn the debate amid a burst of laughter.. Mr Dickie (Patea) said all the arguments against the Bill had been futile and unreasonable. However, he assisted the atonmvnlleie by talking for his full ten minhtes. When Mr Rhodes was speaking at 1.30 the chairman warned members that there was too much interruption. Certain members had been, offending throughout the sitting, and Mr Hoekly said he would tolerate no more interjection*. \

Summer Time Bill Through Committee All Night Sitting Again Important Railway Survey Third Reading To-day Just before 7 this morning Mr Sidey’s long fight for his Summer Time Bill, by which the clock is put forward one hour from the first Sunday in November to the first Sunday in March, closed with every prospect of complete victory—the measure coming through the committee stage with amendments, and requiring now merely the formality of the third reading and the sanction of the Upper House, which is not expected to bo denied on this occasion.

“ We do not wish to obstruct this measure,” said Mr Rhodes, with tours in his voice. “Wo do not wish to prevent the follows in town from enjoying it, so long as it does not apply to rural districts.” Before Mr Rhodes had gone much further there was an interjection, Whereupon Mr Hoekly threatened to report - the next interjector to Mr Speaker for disrespect of the chair. An amendment to tho short title was moved by Mr Rhodes, who suggested that the words “daylight saving ” be added after summer time This Would, ho said, have tho effect of making the title more explicit, more complete, more euphonious, and more pleasant to look at. (Laughter.) With a few points of order to help things along, the amendment was de bated till after 2, when it was defeated by 33 votes to 14. Sir John Luke, who had been asleep for a couple of hours, awoko and made a good-natured interjection, being blissfully ignorant of the chairman’s ruling. “.Has the lion, gentleman boon in the chamber long?” queried Mr Hoekly. “Oh, yes, sir; I’vo been here for hours,” Sir John replied proudly. “Then the lion, gentleman must know that interjections are forbidden,” retorted the chairman sharply. Col lapse of Sir John, amid laughter. The debate on the short title petered out at 3, when the clause was carried by 33 votes to 18. Mr Lysnar immediately moved that the words “if not inconsistent with the title ” bo deleted from clause 2. Having finished his ten minutes’ turn on this amendment at 3.45, Mr Glenn, organiser of the Opposition, sat down tho instant the chairman’s hell sounded, and exclaimed: “Gripes, I’m undone This is awful.”

The solitary lady in the gallery, who stayed till the bitter end, was fast asleep at 4, when Mr Samuel was asserting that tho. retention of tho six words mentioned in the amendment would give any layman legal or political indigestion should bo seek to interpret the Bill without professional advice.

In moving at 4.15 that progress bo reported, Mr Glenn said lie thought tho Bill had boon discussed sufficiently.

Mr Lysnar supported this. “If you look round the Chamber you will notice that all tho supporters of tho Biff arc asleep,” he said. “It is not reasonable to be here at 4.30.” Mr Samuel said the Bill had been Very generously treated, and members should be allowed to go home. The fmtid atmosphere of tho Chamber was injurious to health. At 5 the Chairman counted heads, and found that a quorum was not present. Tho bells were set ringing, and the absentees came flocking in dreamily, nibbing the sleep from their eyes and looking rather pained when informed that there was no division. All references to want of sleep and tho health of members being ruled out of order, breakfast became the topic of debate, and Mr J. R. Hamilton made much of tho fact that the charwomen were iu the lobbies waiting to clean tho Chamber.

The opposition broke down at 5.30, when a motion to report progress was defeated by 32 to 10. Tho amendment concerning the deletion of the words was also lost, and clause 2 was passed. A division was taken at G on Mr H. Holland’s amendment “exempting sheep shearers and threshing mill hands from summer time, unless by mutual agreement they agreed to work standard time.” This amendment was carried by 35 to 14. Another amendment —that any parties to an award could apply to the Arbitration Court to work standard time—was defeated by 31 to Iff. Dir Rhodes moved an amendment seeking to shorten the period of summer time by a fortnight. This amendment, he said, would havo the effect of making summer time operative only during the school holidays—namely, from the second Saturday in December to tho last Saturday in February. This was lost by 35 to 17. Mr Girling moved that summer time end on the third Sunday in February instead of the first Sunday in March, and Mr Sidey voted for this, but it was lost by 35 to 10, so that tho original period stands. A further amendment by Mr J. R. Hamilton —that summer time should not operate tiff a poll of the ratepayers Was taken—was lost on the voices. Mr Glenn’s 'amendment—that summer time should apply only in cities and towns—was also heavily defeated, as was Mr Lysnar’s—that tho railways should bo run to standard time. There was a prolonged round of applause when Mr Sidey left his seat beside the Chairman and resumed his bench. The Biff is set down for ils third reading this afternoon, first on the Order Paper.