SAVING OF DAYLIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 195, 17 August 1911, Page 11

SAVING OF DAYLIGHT.

BILL PASSES SECOND READING. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Mr. Sidev, in moving the second reading of the New Zealand Mean Time Bill in the House, explained that there was little need for him to speak at length, as the measure was similar to o ne° he had introduced in previous sessions. One of the Australian States, he added, had recently affirmed the principle of the bill. The provisions of the measure, he explained, were to move forward the whole industrial work of the Dominion one hour nearer sunlight, thus allowing an additional clear hour of daylight after work was done, which would be available for recreation in all its forms, and would also facilitate the universal training scheme. Notwithrtanding all the ridicule aimed at the daylight saving proposal, it had outlived it all, and was becoming popular. The speaker emphasised the fact that the Select Committee last year had reported that the object of the movement could best be obtained by legislation. The operation of the scheme, he said, would not result in the working of increased overtime, whilst saving in artificial lighting throughout the Dominion would, he estimated, amount to r£lo<>jOO<(. With a view to meeting (the objection raised respecting Australia, he had specified that the coming into operation of the measure should be postponed for one year, to give the Commonwealth an opportunity to follow New Zealand's example, and he was further prepared to concede that the bill should only operate for one or two years unless it was renewed, and thus at least secure a trial. Mr. G. M. Thomson said he had opposed the bill in the past, but he waß inclined to make the trial the mover had suggested. He could not, however, sae what benefits could be gained by the proposal, and yet quite overcome the objections. If New Zealand was exceedingly anxious to lead the world, he would support a trial of the scheme for a year. Mr. C. M. Poole considered that the Dominion had nothing to lose, but everything to gain, by placing this small measure on the Statute Book, even although it may be of an experimental nature. The proposal was also endorsed bv Messrs. Fisher and Hanan. The bill was read a second time oy the voices.