SUMMER TIME IN THE COUNTY.

Shannon News, 18 October 1927, Page 3

SUMMER TIME IN THE COUNTY.

WORKMEN TO OBSERVE DAYLIGHT SAVING. A discussion of the probable effects of the Summer Time Act, which will commence to operate on November 6th, took place at the last meeting of the Horowhemia County Council, when a motion was brought forward with the object of maintaining the old time on County works. The general tendency on the part of the Council was to fall in With the new arrangement, and eventually the motion was withdrawn. „, The question came up when Or. ivnsby moved and Cr. Bryant seconded, "That the time-of starting work by the County workmen be not altered during the operation of the

Summer Time Act." The Chairman (Mr Monk) said that personally he did not eare, but he thought there was a section of the community on the farms who would suffer. Cr. Kilsby: I don't think that in your position that is the right statement to make. This has not been given effect to as it should have been. The Chairman: I met a farmer the other dav, and he is making a suggestion of changing jobs with Mr Sidey during daylight saving. Cr. Kilsby: That is an exception. But I don't see where we.are going to gain anything in this County by the men starting earlier. It means 6.30, and a lot of them have a long way to go and will have to get up at four o'clock. 1 don't think this town is going to gam anything, but it will lose a considerable amount. I would like.to see this passed, and not give the townspeople all the say they are having at the present time. The country is being run by the townsfolk, and it is altogether wrong, As regards the office staff, they can please themselves. Cr. McLeavey: You could not make flesh of one and fowl'of the other. The Chairman: I have argued against Mr Sidey's Bill and used all the endeavours I could to combat it, but it is now on the Statute Book—it is the law of the land, and as a peace-loving citizen I intend to observe that law to the best of my ability. I have been a daylight saver all my life, and I fail to see-how I am going to save any more. If this motion is carried, the surfacemen will have to do something that is probably against their own wishes, and they will be out of step with everybody else. I admit that the Act will not work out as well in the country as on paper; but now that we have it we should not take an action such as this and penalise a section of our employees because Ave have a feeling of oppo sition to the Statute. The farmers arc not in a position to say they are not going to observe it, because they cannot get away from it. If our legislators rind that it is not working equitably, 1 am quite certain they will be among the first to reverse the decision they have given. I am told by people who have had experience of it at their own choice, that if we give it a fair trial, we will find that it is not such a hardship as we imagine that it will be. The greatest hardship will be upon the mother, particularly the mother of a number of young children of school age on the farm; she will have to rise an hour earlier to get her children away to school.

Cr. Jensen: It will probably affect the bitumen department; if they start at 7 a.m., the work may not. be ready for them.

The Chairman: I think that is in our. own hands—their starting hour can be altered.

Cr. Catley said he Avould like to see Cr. Kilsby withdraw his motion. He believed that the legislation was of a grandmotherly nature; but, he asked, would it be fair to employees of this, Council to work an hour longer than the rest of the community? As long aa the Council got value, it did not matter what time was worked.

Cr. Ryder: Seeing that I fought foi daylight saving 15 years ago, when ii Was first introduced, we must see to i. that our workmen do not go to work till a certain time, and I hope that Cr. Kilsby will withdraw his motion. Cr. Jensen: The time will come when you will have to catch the early train to take milk to Wellington. Cr. Kyder: That is all right;. I am doing it now. Cr. McLeavey: It is only for foui months of the year.

Cr. Kilsby: I am rather surprised at councillors taking the -attitude they have in this matter. The Bill has been so long on the shelf, and it is not going to be what it was thought it would be. for the farming community, who will be up against it. Cr. Kilsby added that daylight saving was tried in Australia at one time and was dropped. Cr. Jensen: We have our remedy. We can stay away from town and they will soon come to their senses.

Cr. Whyte: It is going to be awkward for the dairy companies. There are men getting up at 2.30 a.m. in our and they cannot reach the factory...until 8.30. Cr. 5 Kilsby: The Levin Dairy Co. is not going to alter its clock —that is, the time of running anything. It cannot alter its running. The Chairman: That means that the lorries will go out at seven instead of six by the clock. Cr. Kilsby then consented to Avithdraw his motion, Cr. Bryant as seconder agreeing.