OPTIONAL SUMMER TIME

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 204, 29 August 1928, Page 7

OPTIONAL SUMMER TIME

MR. SIDEY'S MEW BILL. SECOND READING TO-DAY. COMMITTEE TO TAKE EVIDENCE. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Mr. T. K. Sidey is being given an opportunity of moving the second reading of the Optional Summer Time Bill in the House to-day, and tliore is no doubt about it passing this stage. There is, however, a fresh development. It is considered desirable, before proceeding further, to fully consider the effect of the measure in connection with the railway, postal and other national services, which would need to be conducted on standard time during the Summer Time period. Therefore Mr. Sidey will agree to refer the measure, after its second reading, to a special select committee for the purpose of taking evidence, mainly from railway and postal officials, as to the practical operation of summer time. As committee investigations take a considerable time it is proposed to limit the evidence to this special phase, and to ask if the Government will agree to a direction that the committee report within seven days. Assuming optional summer time meets with small hostility, it is evident that under the best circumstances its opera- . tion will be delayed beyond November 1, as local authorities need four weeks for confirmation of a special order bringing it into force.