SUMMER TIME BILL

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19112, 22 September 1927, Page 8

SUMMER TIME BILL

THE COUNCIL RELENTS.

SECOND READING AGREED TO

[THE PRESS Special Service.]

"WELLINGTON, September 21

After a debate of a little more than half an hour, in which only eight speakers' participated, the second reading of tlio Summer Time Bill was passed in the Legislative Council this afternoon without a division. Only a few dissentient voices were raised. It is apparent that, with the aid of the votes which were absent last session, and others which are being reversed on this occasion on account of tho constitutional procedure of passing a measure which has been three times agreed to by the Elective Chamber, a fair majority is assured this session for the passage of the Bill. .Moving the second reading, tho Hon. Mr Ban"referred to the measure as a very old and familiar friend. It had already been debated at considerable length, and he referred members to the pages of Hansard. The evidence which had been taken last year was still available.

Dr. Collins, who was not present last year when the debate took place, said he felt there was as ranch reason for the introduction of daylight saving in New Zealand as there was for it in England, if not more, on account of the longer twilight at Home. He spoke of the trial of the scheme in Britain, and referred to the enormous advantages to school children. It was pointed out by authorities, who had made enquiries before its introduction, that many farmers already advanced their clocks in New Zealand, and he could not see how the proposal could detrimentally affect dairy producers. Once tin clock was altered, the scheme would go on automatically, and people would not know "the difference. A large majority of the medical men in the New Zealand Health Department, if not all of them, favoured the Bill.

Sir John Sinclair said he was still opposed to the Bill. lie was far from convinced that it was in tho best interests of the country districts. The Bill had been passed by the House on several occasions, and it seemed to him that in order to act constitutionally, and express the wishes of the people, they should now pass tho Bill. For that reason he would on this occasion vote .for it. (Hear, hear.) A remark was made by the Hon. Mr Moore that the Bill had been mutilated by the House giving certain exemptions. He intimated that when the Bill readied tho Committee stage he would move for the exemption of dairy farmers. Mr Hanan: Do you want to kill the Bill?

Mr Moore said he would not care if he He did not take the same view as others in regard to constitutional principle. The country had not expressed its opinion since last year. Recalling that he had opposed tho measure for eighteen years, Sir Heaton Rhodes intimated that he did not intend to vote against it this time. He did not think that the Council should any longer act as an obstructing bojly, as so many people obviously wished to see the Bill passed. He could only hope that the dairy farmers and other objectors would find that their objections were groundless. The Hon. Mr Newman described the Bill as a. unique one, and remarked that it now ..appeared that it was going to have a unique ending by being passed on constitutional grounds. He would support it because it had been passed three times by the House, but" he was still strongly opposed to it.

The Hon. Mr Garland said that he had opposed the measure last year when he had received hundreds of adverse telegrams. This year, however, he had received only one letter in regard to it. He endorsed the attitude of tho others who advocated following constitutional., procedure. Ho did not approve of the eccentricities inserted in the Bill by the House, and he said he did not beliero any exemptions should bo granted. The Hon. Mr Earnshaw said he hoped Mr Mooro would not persist in moving amendments ivhieh would cn,ly lead to making the scheme unworkable. "'I-have always supported the Bill," he said, "although I don't know that I believe in the principle of it. While wo by this Bill arc trying: to foreshorten the hours of those ordinarily employing labour, there is a movement afoot, and I believe it has entered the precincts of Parliament, .to extend the hours of working of women by one hour a day."

Replying to the discussion, the Hon. Mr Bari> said he was very grateful for tho way. the Bill had been received. While there had been no appeal to the country since last year, there had been a very strong appeal from the country for the Bill. The amendment proposed was only a well-known means of attempting to defeat the Bill. Tb<3 Bill was read a -second time rn the voices and set down for committal to-morrow.