WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 29 December 1916, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

DAYLIGHT SAVING. PKECEPT AND PRACTICE. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, Dec. 27. Remembering the strenuous opposition offered to Mr Sidcy's Regulation of Time Bill, which sought the clock on by an hour during the summer months, it is curtious and a little amusing to find throughout the North Island a certain number of farmers giving practical effect to the purpose of his measure in their own interests. Sotae of them keep their clocks half an hour, fast, some an hour, and some even more, "so that we may get an early start and finish up while there is a bit of daylight left.'' The practice is by no means general in any district, and it is doubtful if the employees get much benefit from it even where it is followed, but the feasibility of Mr Sidey 's scheme i s being illustrated and probably if the member for Dunedin South again got his bill through the House the Council, in view of what has happened at Home and in Australia, would not j have the face to throw it out. SCARCITY OF LABOUR, In a less than half developed country like New Zealand, where there arc millions of acres of land waiting to be brought into closer cultivation, the demand for skilled agricultural labour must always be in excess of the supply, but official information that has been obtained lately suggests that there is not at present the abnormal shortage : of men in the rural districts that has been represented in some quarters. Of course in the flush of the milking season and at harvest time there is employment for almost an unlimited number of hands, but after making allowance foil the hundreds of farmers and farm workers who have joined the Expeditionary Forces it would seem that the position is not nearly so bad as might have been expected. The women have taken up more than their fair share of the milking worries, shearing is nearly completed without any serious trouble having arisen, and the harvest, so far a s the North Island is concerned, is not alarming anyone. Given decent conditions and reasonable wages, the necessary labour will be forthcoming. THE WHEAT QUESTION. In the absence of the Acting-Minister of Industries and Commerce there is little further information to be obtained concrening the progress of the negotiations between his department and farmers in regard to the wheat question. Mr MacDonald is spending the holiday season in Hawke's Bay and Gisr borne districts, scarcely resting, for in these times there is no rest for a Minister of the Crown who takes his duties seriously, but getting a change from the incessant office routine which i s even more trying than the big things of public life. The reports from Canterbury do not give too rosy accounts of the incoming wheat crop, and if they are well founded the farmers may be strengthened in their demand for, a higher price than the Minister was prepared to offer last week. However, a short yield this season would not materially affect the general position next season, and the probability is that Mr MacDonald, backed up by the Board of Trade, will stand firm.