SUMMER TIME AGAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 478, 6 October 1928, Page 1

SUMMER TIME AGAIN

Half-an-Hour On HOUSE PASSES COMPROMISE BILL (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter t WELLINGTON, To-day. CLOCKS will be advanced half an hour on Sunday next. unless the totally unexpected happens and the Legislative Council refuses to accept the Summer-time RiU, passed by the House of Representatives in the early hours of this morning.

The Bill, introduced and approved ■ by the Reform caucus, was introduced j by Governor-General’s message at : midnight. The Government had kept j its secret well, and until yesterday af- ! ternoon there were few among the j Opposition who had any idea the Bill was coming forward. Mr. T. K. Sidey asked, when the Bill was announced, if it was to give pre- ’ cise effect to the recommendations of j the Summer-time Committee. Mr. W. S. Glenn also wanted to know what form the Bill was to take. Were • shearing and harvesting exempted? Mr. Fraser: How is it that the member for Rangitikei knows nothing about the Bill? Has he not been consulted? Is the opposition to sum- j mer time now on its death bed? I hope this time there will be no Trudging acquiescence to the wishes of the majority. Mr. Fraser said that half an nour might be better than nothing, but he thought the Government, having . ccognised its mistake, should introduce the j full hour. THROWING OUT A CHALLENGE Mr. Samuel said that Mr. Fraser was throwing out a challenge before he knew What was in the Bill. Those who opposed national summer time before were opposed to it on their convictions. Mr. Fraser’s challenge made his British blood boil. (Laughter.) Mr. D. G. Sullivan congratulated Mr. Sidey on his triumph over obstacles, and Mr. Samuel on his change of heart. Mr. H. T. Armstrong said the Bill was a half-pie effort to save the face of the Government.

Mr. Glenn pointed out that the select committee, which examined Mr. Sidey’s Local Summer-time Bill, had recommended the half-hour compromise. This Bill was the result. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart said that the Bill was to provide for advancing the clocks half an hour from the second Sunday in October to the third Sunday in March. The same clauses as those of last year were inserted to cover threshing and shearing. Mr. Fraser’s speech, added Mr. Stewart, had been extremely provocative, and might cause difficulty in getting the Bill through. Mr. H. E. Holland: Is this a Government measure? Mr. Stewart: Yes, but we can’t expect every member of our ptrty to vote for it. We think, however, Lhat <r. will secure sufficient support to carry it through. The Bill was then read the first time. In commenting on Mr. Fraser’s remarks, Mr. Glenn added that if Mr. Fraser wanted to resume a debate on the general aspects of the original question, then they were quite ready for him. Mr. Fraser: Are we to gauge your sincerity by tjiat remark? Mr. Glenn: Don’t drive us too far, that’s all. FOR ONE YEAR On the second reading, Mr. Stewart explained that the intention of the Bill was to cover one year. Mr. Sidey thanked the Government for giving effect to the recommendation of the committee. Naturally, he regretted that the people would not have the advantage of the full hour. Mr. J. Bitchener: There will be a good few of them glad. Mr. Sidey said that the full hour should have been given a further trial Also, he was disappointed that this measure was to operate only for a year. However, it was another step in the light direction, another instalment of summer time, and would operate for a month longer than that of last year. “I want to express my thanks that, on the eve of my retirement, the prin-

ciplo of summer time is to be kept alive,** concluded Mr. Sidey. amid applause. The Bill was put through committee without comment, read the third time and passed at 2 a.m. SPORTSMEN JUBILANT WILL MAKE THE BEST OF COMPROMISE Thankful for small measures, the sportsmen of Auckland have raised a joyous chorus of “Hooray!" about the passing of the Bill which gives the city one half-hour’s more sunlight in the summer months. If they cannot get an hour, they certainly mean to make the best of the half-hour. The Local Summer-time Act. passed in the early hours this morning, provides that the clocks will be advanced half an hour from next Sunday until the third Sunday in March. Here are some of the comments of sports bodies: IMPROVING CRICKET “I am immensely pleased,” says Mr. E. E. Nalder, chairman of the management committee of the Auckland Cricket Association. “Daylightsaving made a big difference to cricket, not so much on the Saturday, but to the practice on week-days. The reason that Auckland cricket has not gon* ahead as it should has been the lack of practice, the grounds being so far away. Now the men will be able to leave their work at 4.30 and be at the nets by five o’clock. It will be up to the Cricket Association to give them as many practice grounds as possible, so that they can make the best of their chances.”

Mr. J. F. W. Dickson, president of the New Zealand Suburban Cricket Association and chairman of the local management committee, said that his main regret was that there was not an extra hour. Summer time had been adopted by all progressive countries and it would be only a short time before the farmers here adapted themselves to it and realised that it was for the good of all classes of the Community. The Bill was of equal value to the farmers and especially to their children. From a sporting and from a health point of view there was nothing to be said against daylight-saving. BOWLERS PLEASED According to Mr. James Pascoe, past president of the Auckland Bowling Association, all the bowlers in Auckland are in favour of the measure. It gives them more time to practise and raises the standard of play. “In the past season the standard was very high indeed, thanks to the extra hour of daylight,” he said. “And half an hour is better than none.” Mr. S. Coldicutt, the present president, said that every club had supported the movement by resolution. Undoubtedly it was for the good of everyone. TENNIS AND YACHTING “I can only say ‘hooray!*** said the president of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association, Mr. E. Hickson. “It is due to the local daylight-saving committee, which has been making strenuous efforts, that the compromise has been effected. The half-hour will help tennis by allowing matches to be played during the week and thus stopping the congestion on the courts on Saturdays. Last season was very successful, because we had an extra hour.” Mr. A. J. Collings, secretary of the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association, said that the association had made strenuous efforts to get the hour. “Practically every man jack wants daylight saving,” he said, “for it makes a tremendous difference. When a boat race does not begin until 2.30 it often has to be called off because of darkness. The extra time allows the ships to make a better display and it also lessens the risk.’’