TOO MUCH SUN?

Evening Star, Issue 19804, 1 March 1928, Page 13

TOO MUCH SUN?

WILT LIKE YOUNG PLANTS NEW VIEW ON SUMMER TIME CHRISTCHURCH BUSINESS NOT AFFECTED. [SPBCUt, TO TUB ■ STAK.'] CHRISTCHURCH, February 20. Business people in Christchurch, as far as inquiries-amongst different sections of them show, are indifferent to daylight saving. it has neither increased nor decreased their takings, and it is immaterial to them whether it is put into operation again or not. This is apart from their individual experiences, which they share with all the rest of the community. Froin this point of view they are pleased to have more time in their gardens, or for their daylight pastimes. Mr W. Machm, general manager of the New Zealand Farmers’ CV-opera-tivo Association, finds that it is impossible to measure the effect of the change. He stales that business undoubtedly has been much better during the past few months, hut ho believes tins is accounted for by other causes than daylight saving. For one thing larger incomes have been received by the primary producers. He agrees with other business people that the effect, probably, is negligible one way or the other. The Association deals in both necessaries and luxuries. There has been a marked decline in the demand for luxuries, but that phase seems to be passing. MrMachin had experience of daylight saving in the Old Country, where, when lie was at Home, people were divided in opinion on the subject, town versus country entering into the discussion as in New Zealand. The drapery business in the city has not suffered by the change. Whether it has benefitted nobody, apparently, can say. The manager of a large drapery business looks at if from another point of view. Ho thinks it has had an undesirable effect on the health of children. His children, for instance, rise about 5 a.m. and go to bed at 7.30 p.m. With the daylight streaming into their rooms they lie awake chatting until 9 p.m. or later. It is not so much the lost sleep that he deprecates, as the fact that, in his opinion, the children have too much sunlight. He compares them to young and tender plants that need sonic protection from Hie sun. Too much sunshine causes them to wilt, or has a tendency to do so. For this reason, in his own words, ho docs not think that daylight saving “cuts any icc.” Ho would not cross the street to vote for it.