Big Deputation Urges Summer Time

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 428, 9 August 1928, Page 13

Big Deputation Urges Summer Time

LOCAL BILL SUPPORTED CONSIDERATION BY MR. COATES Press Association. WELLINGTON, To-day. A large and representative deputation waited on the Prime Minister today to urge that facilities should be given for the passage of the Summer Time Local Empowering Bill, introduced into the Mouse of Representatives by Mr. T. K. Sidey. The deputation was introduced by Mr. Sidey and was representative of the Wellington City Council, a number of local bodies outside Wellington, the Petone Borough Council, the Civic League, the Mutt Borough Council, the Associated Chambers of Commerce, and the Wellington Chamber, the Manufacturers’ Association, the Employers’ Association, the Trades and Labour Council, the medical profession, the New Zealand Educational Institute, the Kindergarten Association, the National Council of Women, the Mothers' Union, and the women’s branch of the Medical Association. Mr. Sidey said the representative nature of the deputation showed the strength of sentiment in favour of the larger towns and cities being given power to work to summer time. They recognised there were difficulties, but the measure would not affect the railways, steam services, or Post and Telegraph Department. They relied on those services being able to meet the altered conditions. Me had introduced the Bill to try to meet the very strong demand that existed for summer time. Me did not regard the new measure as being anything like so satisfactory as the former measure. Me was quite sure the Act of last session had not been thoroughly tried. What the deputation wanted was the Prime Minister’s assurance that facilities would be given to enable Parliament to deal with the new measure. In reply to the deputation, Mr. Coates said the proposal was entirely new to him, and would require some consideration. lie failed to see how transport could be arranged to meet the cases of difficulty that would arise. He thought there was legislative authority now for local authorities to adopt daylight saving if they wished. Mr. Sidey said the awards of the Arbitration Court and certain statutes prevented this being done. Mr. Coates said he would not like to make any definite commitment that the Bill would be given all the facilities of a Government Bill. He would consider the question, and let Mr. Sidey know what facilities could be given. If the members had decided views on this question, that in itself would have some influence on what facilities should be given. The Deputy-Mayor of Wellington said he and others had indications from good members who had opposed the Bill, and who represented the country constituencies, that they would support the present proposal.