104 Hours Saved So Far

Evening Star, Issue 19794, 18 February 1928, Page 4

104 Hours Saved So Far

Opinions For and Against Mr Sidey is not a boaster. He has the judicial mind, the result his training to the law. Were ho of the vainglorious type or given to subversion he could make social and political capital out of the working of tho Summertime Act of which ho is the author. He could claim, on the witness of tho birds, that daylight saving is & return to Nature. He would be safe in relying on the approbation of thousands who under the strict calendar seldom or never ( were able to enjoy an evening’s pastime in the open air. But ho refrains from flag-flying or trumpeting. He is anxious to get the considered opinion of his fellow-citizens as to whether the experiment has proved a success or whether the lengthening ot the summer day is yet upon its trial so far as New Zealand is concerned. Appreciating his moderation in the matter, and desiring to help in obtaining the matured judgment of the people at large, we have made inquiries in those quarters from which responsible answers may be expected, and herewith present tho results. Of the 119 days during which tho statute operates 104 have now passed, so that a period measuring just on fifteen weeks has already b#on added to our usefulness in optional engagements—another term, perhaps, for playing. Also a similar time has been added to domestic labor. That is the proposition put foiwaid by farmers. They say that tho new style makes very little diffcienco to the actual farm work, but that it imposes heavier duties upon those of their wives and daughters who manage tho homes. The Act has only one year’s currency. When the new Bill is introduced into Parliament next session it is sure to be vehemently opposed by tho country folk. The question is whether it will be as actively supported by its friends. Maybe this will be one of the debatable points at the General Election. Already it is rumored that the opposing parties will organise. It is just as well that they should do so, so that the vote of Parliament will be upon the rewaled will of the people as a whole, not upon an imperfectly-ex-pressed opinion'as to what that will is. In other words, the battle now foreseen should settle the question definitely for some period longer than a year, so as to rid tho political arena of a subject which after all is secondary in importance to some subjects upon which tho prosperity of the dominion depends. This is the sort of dispute in which the right of the people to decide by majority may very well be accepted as final. TRADESMEN AND OTHERS KOBE KUDOS THAN KICKS

iWitK very few exceptions the tradespeople of Dunedin, both employers and employees, have expressed themselves bb being well satisfied with the Daylight Saving Bill. In order to make the position quite clear, it would be as well to divide these folk into three classes. Firstly, there are the jovial parties (a great many of them) who, when Baked for their opinion of the Bill’s effect, simply sit back in their chairs, slip their thumbs into the armholes of their waistcoats, and positively beam upon the interviewer. “ A wonderful idea of Mr Sidey’sthey say in effect. “May it return next year—for six months.” Secondly, there are many who give vent to their appreciation in a less spectacular but nevertheless sincere manner; they quietly draw attention to the fact that because of the measure they have better gardens this year than they have ever had; they feel fitter in themselves; their children, owing to the extra hours of sunshine and the consequent healthy participation in sports of all kinds, are radiating vitality; and their womenfolk, although they at first found the new order of things upsetting from the domestic point of view, soon settled down into the pleasant groove of efficiency phis the joy of living. The third class could well be termed “the neutrals.” For they seem to care not what the- effects of the Bill are; they realise no differences in the routine of their lives. As any adverse result of the measure would immediately make itself felt, and would with equal spontaneousness he ventilated, this seems to indicate that they are well satisfied To be sure, there is a fourth class, a very small one, which is against the Bill, but the members of it give reasons for their antipathy which show that their feelings are stirred rather because of their own inability to adapt themselves to new conditions, and since the conditions as applied to city life are really very little different from those of the pre-Sidey time days, their grievances appear to be imaginery. “I’m worn out through getting up early and working about the place until dark,” declare the wives of some busin :s men and tradesmen—all tbe time fee getting that it is seldom necessary for town folk to work until dark. “I can’t get the children to bed,” is the outcry of _ others. Here_ at last is a reason which rings true in some cases. It k a difficult matter to persuade youngsters that bed is the best place for them, when all the time the long, pleasant evenings are calling them to the altar of fresh air and recreation. But, as on© woman pointed out, the

solution to that problem, too, is just a matter of adjustment. Perhaps the very young babies deserve a paragraph all to themselves. Some mothers state that, when daylight saving was introduced they found great difficulty in putting these tiny tots to sleep. Possibly it was duo to more liveliness on the streets. At any rate they say that when any strangeness connected with the new measure wore off not much trouble was experienced. In reviewing briefly the position of laborers, grocers, _ butchers, bakers, shop assistants, railwaymen, tramwaymen, builders, engineers, and hote) workers, it can bo written down, as a result of the ‘ Star’s ’ investigations, that from the industrial aspect the advent of summer time has by no means diminished the forces w'hich make for good workmanship. No inconvenience is felt. Rather is the contrary the case. And where hostile criticism has _ been raised it has its source in a distinctly private and domestic quarter. An inquiry at the office of the Laborers’ Union elicited the information that the members had, with the assistance of Mr Sicley, seized time by the forelock, as it were, and _ formed a cricket team, which practised three nights a week. Those who did not play cricket put in the extra time in their gardens, and, whether sportsman or man with a hobby, ono and all spoke in complimentary terms of the new measure. Similar inquiries at the other union offices brought forth no invectives, although one official, speaking personally, said ho would be quite content to live under the old system. It seems, too, that’the views of bakers do not exactly coincide._ Some members of the trade prefer daylight baking, and thus through daylight saving they lose an hour in the morning. _ Other bakers prefer to carry out their jobs in the “wee sma’ boors” irrespective of whether the day has dawned or not. “ Daylight saving seems to me a huge success,” stated a member of one of the trades yesterday. “I honestly believe I would like to see the clock put on two hours instead of one. For the life of me I can’t make out the attitude of our farmers in the matter. The system has been accepted unanimously in far more thickly populated parts of the world than our own. There are farmers in England, too; there are farmers on the Continent; their work seems to go on just the same. In New Zealand the fate of the Bill seems to lie in the result of a wordy battle between inhabitants of the town and of the country. The city people are in the majority, and they should win.”

THE CHURCHES

IS THE EVENING ATTENDANCE WANING ? SOME SAY “YES"; OTHERS PERCEIVE NO MATERIAL CHANGE

Questions have been put to responsible members of various churches in Dunedin as to whether tho adding of an hour to the summer evening has lessened the attendance. The following replies indicate a varied experience :

Canon Nevill, of St. Paul’s Cathedral, said in answer to a question on the subject: “Speaking generally, I think that the attendance at the cathedral in tho evening has of late been not quite so good as usual, but the reduction is no» very marked, and I am of opinion that on the whole the effect of tho reform is not such as to give rise to complaint on tho part of churchmen.”

An Anglican who holds a responsible official position bluntly declared his opinion to be that tho daylight saving change was not materially affecting church attendance, and was not likely to. “ Tlie people who wish to go to church will do so, and those who think it doesn’t matter will come or stay away as they choose, which is what they have always done.” An All Saints’ vestryman who was invited to state the experience in that parish said that he did not notice any difference either in the pews or in tho contributions.

The Rev. Father Collins, administrator of the Catholic diocese of Dunedin, said: “The change ..has had a slight effect on the attendance at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, diminishing the numbers at evening devotions, but not to the extent of constituting a grievance. As to the experience of country churches, I know nothing officially, but I have heard that the alteration has had a very bad effect.” The Rev. Tulloch Yuille, of Knox Church, spoke guardedly and without any pretence to voice Presbyterians generally. “I do not think that the alteration has affected us particularly. If there is, any affect upon tho_ attendance it is adverse, but only in a very slight degree, and because of this indistinctness and the further lact that we have changed the time of the evening service from b. 30 to i o’clock—the idea being, T believe, to suit people who are living in hotels— I am not prepared to speak too positively.” Dr Herrington, of First Church, remarked: “My impression is that the daylight saving lias not interfered with a the evening services. Many churches in the city commence their services at 7 o’clock instead of 6.30. Judging by the attendances at First Church the result of this has been good, and the evening attendances have been of a high order. A number of visitors to the city have been able to attend the evening services by the change to 7 o’clock.”

SGHGOL CHILDREN UNAFFECTED

BETTER AND HEALTHIER, IF ANYTHING

“ I cannot see any difference in the children; they are just as bright or just as dull as they were m pre-Sidey days.” Thus the head master or one of'our big primary schools. He pointed out that the period covered by the Summer Time Act was largely made-up of the school holidays, and as homo lessons are invariably made a little lighter just prior to and for a littlo while alter the holidays, it was difficult to say how the extra hour’s daylight affected tins aspect of school life. “Do I notice any difference n the work or attitude of tho youngsters; 1 repeated another head master when that question was put to him. Aot a bit; except that they look browner, healthier, and happier. But that us the result of the wonderful weather wove had.” “And to get an extra hour in the evening of such weather, he _ adued, “IS SKiely worth while. No, i. i-t’-ink tß’.nght saving is a good thing;, bo.n for the youngsters and for everyone else.”

THE SPORTSMAN'S VIEW.

THE “ AYES " HAVE IT— UNANIMOUSLY

That there is no question at all about the benefit which the Summer Time Act has been to sport is the general opinion of those who take part in any game or indulge in any pastime. Every man, woman, youth, and maid who claims adherence to such game or pastime has experienced that benefit. And it is as though Mother Nature herself has added her voice to the “ Ayes,” for has not this summer been an ideal one for all those healthy, happy, sensible folk who believe in exercise and recreation? Without going into detailed figures, it is safe to say. that more people are actively engaged in cricket, tennis, bowls, athletics, rowing, swimming, cycling, and similar games and exercises at the present moment than has been the case for a very long time. Many a man and youth whose hours of work, in previous years, precluded him from practising at the nets, or playing on the courts, or pulling on the harbor, can now enjoy a couple of hours at his favorite exercise. He can go home and have his evening meal in comfort, and afterwards go to the ground or to the green; while those who are past playing, but who still retain the sporting instinct and their interest in their favorite game, may go along and watch their more active brethren taking part in it. Yes; so far as sports are concerned, “ Sidey time ” has come, been tried, and conquered; and it behoves players and supporters of all games to make certain that the benefits and privileges of the Bill are not fftehed from them. The above is a summary of the opinions of numerous players and authorities connected with our leading sporting organisations. Tt is unnecessary to record the results of the separate interviews; the opinions expressed were all so much alike. There was no dissentient voice. For instance, an official of the N.Z.A.A.A., OtagoCentre, said: “ Amateur athletics has benefited from Mr T. K. Sidey’s Daylight Saving Bill as much as any other summer sport, and the results have been apparent in more ways than one. The in Dunedin this season has been a high one, due to the fact that the centre and the affiliated clubs have been enabled to run evening meetings much more frequently than nas been the case in past seasons. Of late, evening meetings have been held twice weekly, and the indications are the public is gradually being attracted to amateur athletics as the result of the enjoyable evening meetings which have been made possible by summer time. The track and field men themselves have not only

The Salvation Army’s testimony is quite direct and explicit. Brigadier Burton says: “The consensus of opinion is that daylight saving has made a difference. We find that the people who get away during the day on Saturday for the v,*eek-end and stay over Sunday yield to the temptation to start for home as late as possible on the Sunday, and in consequence do not arrive in time to attend the services. I am referring not to members of the Army, but to those who may be termed adherents. I can speak of knowledge about the matter, for I returned on Tuesday from a tour of Otago and Southland, during which 1 reached Bluff. Talking about the subject there and at other places, I found that whilst our officers like tho change in that it gives them an hour’s more activity, they say generally that it has affected the attendance.”

The Rev. W. Saunders being away on leave, one of the leading office-bear-ers of the Moray Place Congregational Church was asked about the evening attendance, and he answered that he thought it was adversely affected, but only to a slight extent. The Rev. E. S. Tuckwcll, of Hanover Street Baptist Church, replied: “I should say distinctly .that the hour’s saving has made no difference either way to the attendance at our church in the evening. Some said, when tho alteration was approaching, that it would probably result in a falling off, but so far, as Hanover street is concerned I notice no such effect. One must remember that during the holiday season there is always an exodus from the cities. The daylight saving was, however, in operation before the holiday season, so that there is a basis for the statement I now make.” The Methodists seem to be having a varying experience. A prominent member" of Trinity Methodist Church who was spoken to in the absence of the responsible officer at tho conference said he believed there was a slight fall ing off in the attendances at tho evening services there, attributable largely to the prolongation of afternoon motor trips. The reduction, however, was not at all of serious extent.

A prompt negative came from an of-fice-bearer of Cargill Road Methodist Church when the question was put to him. “ Our congregations are as big as ever,” lie said, “and we cannot understand it if there is any outcry.” As against that testimony one has to place the statement of an officebearer of the Central Mission. “We are feeling the change very much. Our mission is not like a church. We cater for the unattached—the loungers, the stray visitors—and certainly we have not this summer seen so many of them as usual.”

A well-known ex-schoolmaster, in conversation on the subject, remarked; “Do not the young anmmals, the young birds, the young flowers—everything in Nature that grows, wax stronger and healthier the more sunlight they get? _ Then why not the young human animal?” Thinking that the position might be a little different at the schools which were on the outskirts of Dunedin —the semi-country schools, so to speak—the ‘ Star ’ reporter asked the teacher in charge of one of these how his pupils fared. “They’re no different,” he answered. “ i’ve not seen any of them looking sleepy or sleepier than usual.” “I know,”" he added, “that the parents of many of them arc opposed to the Bill heacause, they say, they canno* get the youngsters to go to bed while it is light. Well, this appears to me to be a confession of weakness; of lack of parental control. However, so far as the children and their lessons in school are, concerned, if it has made any difference at all it is for the belter.”

1 benefited from greater competition, but also from the increased opportunities of training that have been afforded by daylight saving There is no doubt whatever that followers of amateur athletics are in favor of summer time, and so great a boon has it been that, should it be discontinued next season, it would be regarded as a step that would react to the detriment of one of the most popular of all sports.” ‘‘Swimming,” remarked a swimming enthusiast when approached, “ has also reaped advantages from summer time, but it cannot be gainsaid that the health-giving surf of St. Clair has been patronised by splashing naiads and dainty mermaids in greater numbers than ever before as the result of the increased daylight hours after work. Jaded business men, office girls, factoryworkers —in fact, all classes of the community—may daily be observed taking themselves to the beach at St. Clair after work is done, there to enjoy the remaining daylight hours frolicking about in the briny, with results that may be measured in a healthier community in time to come. Swimmers and bathers are all for summer time.”_ “A great thing for cricket,” said an O.C.A. official. “ Scores of players who could not manage to get adequate practice before can now go homo and have tea at the usual hour, and so not upset the domestic arrangements, and afterwards go and have a couple of hours’ good, useful practice. In addition to the improvement in his play that must be the result of such regular attendance at the nets, there is the benefit to his general health from exercise in the sunlight and open air. You’ll find,” he added in conclusion, “that our standard of cricket will gradually improve as a result of the Dayling Saving Bill.” “Oh, it’s finel” said a well-knowm bowler. “Here we are playing the full twenty-one heads in the four-rink championship games instead of the curtailed match Or sixteen heads. Besides, you can get a game of an evening without having to rush home and rush back. And when you get two or three nights or so like tnat you can afford to give a night or so to the garden, or to that old fowlhouse that wants a board nailing on.” And so the talk goes on, while the other chap chips in with: “Yes, and on those bosker nights we can meet our wives and kiddies at the beach at 5 o’clock (which is really 4 o’clock), and have tea there and put in a nice, cool evening.” The summer of 1927-28 will certainly go down in history as a record for surf-bathing.

PLEA FOR THE FARMERS

"THE GLORIOUS FOURTH OF MARCH"

In all fairness to the farmers the ‘ Star ’ has, in its investigations among those who dwell in rural districts, tried to forget the paeans which have been showered upon the Daylight Saving Bill by the majority of city dwellers. For it appeal's that the working conditions in town and country are totally dissimilar. In the former case the hours of labor are regular, thus allowing people to enjoy in recreative and lucrative fashion tho extra hour of daylight, which, incidentally, does not affect their industry. Country people, on the other hand, especially farmers, have been brought up on tho “ mafce-hay-while-the-suu-sliines ” principle, and they find it extremely difficult to break away from the old traditions which decree that they must work until night descends. And this in spite of the fact that, having been up an hour earlier than usual in the mornings, they have put in extra time. The result is, then, that fanners, their wives, and children, are at present taking more out of themselves than ever before. Before the mechanical conquering of Father Time strong protests were raised against Mr Sidey’s Bill on the grounds that it would affect the_ harvesting operations, the dairying industry, and, in fact, ail work connected with the land. Now, however, although in isolated instances these reasons for antipathy arc still submitted, the denunciation, which almost without exception is ventilated by all farmers, arises rather from the wearying effects of the lengthened working hours than from any disastrous interference with their occupation. In tho majority of cases it is said that the women and children suffer most, for the men, no matter what they are doing, can at some time or other during the day enjoy a “smoke oh,” maybe several. For a farmer’s wife there is little respite, and children often have to work before and after school. Tho crux of the situation seems to be that the farmer and bis family will never be able to appreciate daylight saving until they have schooled themselves to an adjustment of time involving the sacrifice of at least one good woiking hour of afternoon daylight. In doing this thev would have to fight against forces of Nature, well nigh irresistible. For the sale© of their own enjoyment of life, however, the utilisation of this extra hour for recreative purposes would bo welcome, and in addition it would enable farmers to fall in line with the town folk, who by their numbers undoubtedly constitute a majority in favor of the Bill. Only one farmer among the numbers who were sounded cn the matter ex-

pressed approval of the prevailing summer hours. He was a young man, a single man, a sheepman, who declared light-heartedly: “1 don’t care a hang what the time is as long as it isn’t time to pop off into the next world. My clocks never go right anyhow. My work seems to go on just the same, and I get in a shot or two at the rabbits in the evening.” More sober views were taken by a particularly level-headed farmer from South Otago, -who stated that 'before the Bill was passed he endeavored to persuade all his farmer friends to give it a fair trial. He had lived for some time in the Old Country under the daylight saving conditions, and he was so impressed with it there that be was very keen to have it introduced in New Zealand. “I was not long in changing my opinion after suffering under it here,” he said. “There seems to be all the difference in the world between the working conditions here _ and in England. I can’t exactly describe what it is. It is something subtle. It may be that we work harder out here, or it may be that the farms at Homo are smaller holdings, which do not require to have so much work put into them. This is a young country, and its development means a good deal of extra labor. We simply feel that we have to use all the daylight that we can, and that one 'additional hour seems to be just too much. Its effect on the women and children is almost alarming.” He added that team work was greatly interfered with because the teamsters, owing to the darker mornings, were later than usual in getting their horses into tight chains, and, after working the extra time at night, wore not able to go to bed in time to enjoy their proper night’s rest. It might seem a silly argument, he said, but there it was—an absolute fact. Several other farmers, thinking along the lines, the substance of which has been made public from time to time, made no bones about decrying the innovation. Quoth one: “ I’m going to dance a Maori haka when we get our old time back on glorious fourth of March. I’ve never had such a trying time in my life, but all the same I think the men in the country have not suffered so much as the women.”

“Look,” said another, “some of the mornings I’ll get up and meet myself coming to bed. 1 must admit that some of the drawbacks I anticipated were blown out when the Bill came into force, but others have been thrust upon us, and there seems to be nothing but work, work, work, with very little sleep. I’m completely fed up.”