CLOCKS ADVANCE ONE HOUR

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 195, 7 November 1927, Page 12

CLOCKS ADVANCE ONE HOUR

Minor Humours of the Change

rHE difficulty of breaking the habits of years was expressed this morning in countless yawns. Up an hour earlier, city workers yawned in the trams, and yawned at their offices. Daylight saving had made its bow.

rpHAT hour clipped from the night was never missed yesterday. Few were obliged to follow fixed timetables, and the routine of a summer Sunday permitted the indolent to preserve their usual attitude of comfortable indifference to the clock. But summer time this morning told a different story. Through the fog of a drowsy seven o’clock awakening, sleepy citizens groped their way to the impression that the grey sky outside was the sky of six o’clock little beyond the dawn. “Confound Mr. Sidey,” said strong men, staggering to their shaving water. TALES OF MISSED TRAMS Inconvenience was inevitable to the change, but it was accepted goodhnmouredly when the sleepiness had worn off. Early ferries and early trams lacked some of their u ® complement. For instance, the 7.58 car from Remuera, usually packed on arrival at Newmarket, was but halffull this morning. Devonport people, educated to the axiom that time and the ferries wait for no man. were less lax so late in the day, and most office-goers contrived to catch their appointed boats, though not without effort. Thus the second day of summer time, and summer was at first excluded by a drab sky. Eater the heavens assumed a different texture, and the sunshine filtered through. As on the first day, its belated appear-

•nee emphasised the advantages of the system, for at noon the city was basking in warmth. On Sunday when delightful conditions extended au invitation to the out-of-doors, the non beamed warmly through a veil of haaie, and dayligbt-eaving was given an introduction invested with the most favourable circumstances. The and the night before, had field a carnival flavour. If there was » dual toast on Saturday night, it was: “Mr. Sidey and Guy Fawkes,” and the honouring thereof was punctuated by fusillades of fireworks, and by contemplation of the prospect of a summer time Sunday, a day rich in hours of blessed sunshine. A MISSING CLOCK The advancement of the clocks was not effected without minor complications or perplexing omissions, and the public was alert to discover public clocks which had been allowed to continue running unaltered. In the city only the timepiece outside Whitcombe and Tombs's showed evidence of distress. It had been entirely removed from its case. Individual householders contributed humour to the occasion. An Edenrtale couple of advanced years have proclaimed their intention of adhering to standard time “whatever happens.” Standard time has served them well enough to date, and they consider it good enough for their declining years. Other householders •were with them in the omission to advance the clock, but their neglect was accidental. Hence there were churches at which belated worshippers arrived an hour after the service had begun. At the Onehunga Methodist Church four ladies arrived toward the close of the sermon, mistook the closing for the opening hymn, and sat down while the rest of the congregation stood for the benediction. Last evening the attendances at some churches were below the average, apparently a result of summer time, which tended to prolong the Sunday afternoon outings. A sailor who had taken his time by the ship's chronometer missed the Limited express last evening, and was loud in his indignation. Other stout citizens put their clocks back, instead r>f forward, and one stubborn business man would not surrender until to-day. ADJUSTING THE TIME-TABLE In hotels and boarding-houses the tea-gongs seemed to go perplexingly early, and it is apparent that lateness for the evening meal will be a concomitant of the new order. Other novel features will be altered starting times for important fixtures. It is to be noted that one or two picture theatres, as well as His Majesty’s, propose for the present to abide by the usual hours, and will start at S o'clock or 7.45. One picture-house proclaims that It does not wish to help in shortening the community’s hours of sleep. Nearly all through the Dominion the theatres are not starting until 8.30 p.m., but in Wanganui the proposals of the theatre managements were rudely countered by the City Council, which declined to postpone the despatch of the last trams to the suburbs. In the long twilights of the South people will be at the pictures, churches, and theatres in broad daylight. In Invercargill, in midsummer, people will even be going to bed in daylight, and at hospitals all through the Dominion the early "lights out” order will be overbalanced by the ease with which patients will be able to read in bed without the aid of artificial light. At the opppsite end of the day the reverse effect of summer time has already delayed the starting-time of early-morning training at Ellerslie, and jockeys arid stable-boys can now lie abed for at least another half hour. Ordinarily the track work begins shortly after break of day, when the horses are fresh and eager. By the clock, daylight is now so much later In appearing, and trackwork did not begin this morning until after 5.30.

Several racing clubs are contemplating a postponement of their startingtimes. The Canterbury Jockey Club began its second day’s races, to-day, at the usual hour, but, on Thursday the Whangarei races will not begin until a quarter to one. This will be popular with business people, who will not need to close their shops so soon, but not with those who have to travel to the meeting. The last race will not be run until after 6 o’clock, and visitors will be proportionately later in getting home.