W. BROMLEY.]

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1.—15.

So far as your knowledge goes there is no trouble in that direction ?—No. And I do think this : that it is a splendid thing to get as much daylight as you possibly can. But in regard to this question of the dairy-farmers milking, they state that is one of their objections ? !t may cause them some concern now, but they will get over that As T have said, they are milking practically at the same time in Australia as in New Zealand, and it is much hotter over there. The Chairman.] From whal you saw at home you think there, is a tendency for men to get more interested in their gardens, and suchlike, if they have this extra hour ?- Well, 1 do not know that you could say that the Bill would be responsible for creating an enthusiasm in a man for gardening who did not have it previously. But the man who is an enthusiastic gardener would have a better opportunity to give it full scope. Some of them play football in the evening, and some of them play cricket. Mr. Sullivan.] In regard to the young fellows of, say, from eighteen to twenty-four, who are in the habit of knocking around,the town, whal effect do you think it would have upon them % —As I have stated before and 1 am perfectly serious about this —1 do not think that the average young fellow or young lady will realize that there is anything wrong with the clock after the first morning, and that consequently they will never alter their habits in any way. Mr. W. Atkinson examined. (NO. 7.) The Chairman.] Your full name? William Atkinson. And you represent ? lam a delegate representing the dairy workers on the Trades Council. Will you make a statement ? — Yes, sir. I may say that 1 have paid a visit to England, and have had a good part of two summers there recently during the duration of the daylight-saving, and 1 wish to endorse entirely what Mr. Bromley says when he says that he never heard a word in opposition or antagonistic to its being in operation. On the contrary, over and over again f have heard nothing but praise for it On account of the great advantages which accrue from it. Mr. Sullivan.] What part of England was that ?—Lancashire. T spent a considerable time knocking about from one town to another. I visited Manchester, Liverpool, Burnley, Blackburn, Preston, Padiham, Great Harwood, Bacup, llautenstall, Nelson, Colne, Acerington, and also parts of Yorkshire. And in all those places on no occasion did T ever hoar a word in antagonism to the operation of the Daylight-saving Act there. It strikes me as a most peculiar thing that the; moralists in this country are not demanding the change-over, because daylight is not only advantageous in one direction, it is advantageous in every direction. If, for instance, it is good for the growing plants, it is likewise good for the growing youngsters. Daylight is health and life, in my opinion. And, more than that, i can say that the housewives 1 have met are most enthusiastic in regard to it on account of the fact that it supplies more lighting and gives a greater opportunity to do better work. There is no artificial light equal to daylight as yet. And if the young people are inclined for sports they get an opportunity to engage in healthy sports much better in daylight than they do in the dark. I may say that T have spent some time myself in connection with swimming. At one time I was a teacher of swimming. And 1 know the importance of daylight for that particular thing, at any rate. No one can condemn healthy sport in any part of the world, and if this daylight-saving gives another hour to engage in healthy sport I say that it is a very strong argument in its favour. It has been stated that New Zealand, would certainly feel the advantages 6f it equally as well as they do in the Old Country because they get a much longer day there in the summer than we do here. Now, speaking in regard to the question of the dairy-farmers and their milk, 1 am more than surprised that there should bo, any opposition from that quarter, especially around Wellington, because when milk is being delivered here in Wellington the one difficulty is keeping that milk cool, and the earlier that milk is delivered the more likelihood there is of getting better and less contaminated milk. T feel sure that the municipal authorities here, or, at any rate, the Milk Committee, will feel glad if this change-over takes place here in New Zealand, on account of the fact that they will not need to cover the carts to the same extent as they intend to do shortly if there is no change-over. Ido not think it is necessary to refer much to anything further. Much of the ground that I had intended to deal with has been covered by other apeakers. Ido not wish to take up your time any more than is necessary. But [ must say this : that I feel sure that this would be one of the most popular measures, giving advantages to practically every man and woman, to every worker, and to any one, who is inclined to live a greater life, because the more you are enjoying daylight the more you are enjoying life. Mr. Field.] What dairy workers do you represent ? — The Wellington dairy workers. Those who distribute the milk? Yes. Those who distribute the milk and those who pasteurize it. Not those who come into town to deliver milk ?--No.. Most of those who come into town to distribute milk, from what 1 have seen of it, are farmers with the help of some youngsters. T only wish we had the power to control those people in order to make them employ proper labour. I have been told by more than one person from the Old Country that the daylight-saving there is a positive nuisance. That is not what yon suggest ? —No. I take it this way : that most people judge things according to their breeches-pocket, and, that being so, when a man expresses an opinion i generally look at the individual and ask myself where his interest lies, and I do not always take his opinion as an honest opinion of the general weal and well-being of the community. lam in support of this thing, not for my own particular self, but for this reason : that if it is good for the greatest number lam prepared to coincide with that. And I recognize that a vaster number of people will be benefited by the, daylight-saving than will be benefited by the reverse action. It may affect a few people adversely. There is no change that takes place, and no alteration in the law, that does not