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Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1928, Page 2

The Daylight Saving Measure, over which there has been so much talk, has received its quietus in Parliament. In view of the “set” against the ('Jiange of time by the primary producers. the result is not surprising. Hast year the proposal had a trial and there was wide appreciation ol' the result, but from the outset the opposition of farming interests was pronounced, and it would appear that in reality there was not an impartial test', because of the prejudged opinions. In towns and centres there was a very general approval, and it was thought that the numbers would outweigh the country interests. Naturally a good deal of consideration is given to the wishes of the primary producers in most matters, and in this matter of daylight saving, when it was found that the farming community was so generally opposed to a renewal ol the experiment, the weight of opinion in the House was on the side of the man on the land, and the second reading of Mr Sidey’s Bill was lost by 33 votes to 28. Mr Sidey had made the subject a very prominent one in his parliamentary career, and when he obtained ft passing victory a year ago by way of trial or experiment, he was congratulated on all sides. Mr Sidey is finishing liis career in the Lower House this session, so that presumably the last has been heard of daylight saving in active politics, unless another champion of the project arises. Tt must be admitted that the trial was a short one, and in other countries where a longer test has been given, the innovation lias come to stay. The position in New Zealand will be badly prejudiced now by the vote in Parliament, and it will he some time before a member is courageous enough to take the subject up again. The issue is not one likely to be a burning question on tbe hustings, so that whatever party may be power, it will not matter greatly. The question has been treated as non-party, and in that category it will remain. The reform to be effective must come from those who have hitherto condemned the proposals, and a definite movement in that direction is not an immediate possibility. On that account, it would appear that the conclusion that the matter of daylight saving is now a dead letter in New Zealand polities, seems to be well justified.