DAYLIGHT SAVING

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1928, Page 6

DAYLIGHT SAVING

THE HALF HOUR COMPROMISE

PROCEEDINGS IN COMMITTEE

(“Lyttelton Times.”).

WELLINGTON, Oct. 16

The half hour of summertime whiefr eaune into operation on Sunday is again to he an experiment for one season, and it will be necessary to raise the question in Parliament next session if any further change in standard time is desired in the summer. It becomes evident, from examination of the minutes of the Select Committee of the House which took evidence on Mr T. K. Sidey’s optional Summer Time Bill that the original report of the committee would have provided for a permanent settlement of the controversy on, the compromise basis of hi® 1 an hour, but that the meml>ers wer equally divided, and on the chairmam’s casting vote the report was altered to recommend the further trial for one year. There was a heavy balance of evidence against the optional principle. Mr G. M’Namara, secretary of tbe Post and Telegraph Department, told tbe committee that optional summer time would be accompanied by serious inconvenience, which might be met to a certain extent, but only by additional expenditure without any compensating increase in revenue.

Shipping interests were also against the • proposal, unless there was a guarantee of uniformity at all ports... Waterside workers generally approved of Pst year’s legislation, but considered that dual time would cause so many difficulties that it would be impracticable.

Railway Department witnesses produced detailed evidence to show that dual summer time could only be carried out by providing additional train services and increased expenditure without corresponding return, and they feared that it would encourage motor competition. Thus tbe Select Committee bad no difference of opinion over a decision that optional summer time was impracticable. It therefore considered a draft report recommending the Governmen to frame legislation for a ha’fhour advance on tbe clock in summer. An amendment was moved by Mr W. S. Glenn to add to tbe report tbe limitation of tbe Act for one year. He was supported on a division bv Messrs Lysnar, J. R. Hamilton and Sir Maui Poniard. On the other side there were also four votes: Messrs E. P. Dee, T. K. Sidey, D. G. Sullivan and W. A. Veitch. It, therefore, became necessary for tbe chairman (Mr E. P. Lee, Oamnru) to exercise his casting vote, which he did in favour of the limitation of the experiment to a year. Sir Maui ■ Pom are and Messrs Glenn and Lysnar opposed any further daylight saving legislation, but tbe votes of the chairman, Messrs Sidey, Sullivan, Veitch and J. R. Hamilton, earvied the compromise report which led to the Act being passed.