SUMMER TIME.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19258, 13 March 1928, Page 8

SUMMER TIME.

MARLBOROUGH VOTES "NO" TOWN AND COUNTRY AGREE. (SMCIAL TO TBI T&1BB.) BLENHEIM, March 12. The referendum conducted by the Marlborough "Express" on the question of daylight saviug has been completed, and the result is a very decisive victory for the opponents of the measure. The polling was as follows: — Against ... ... ••■ 2<3ou Fur ... ... ... 772 For Another Trial ... 7o Informal ... ... ... 71 . Total Votes ... 3523

The referendum aroused iuterest in all (parts of the province, from tho bays of the sounds districts in the north to the Clarence Bridge- in the south. The suggestion that the referendum would resolve itself into a Town; v. Country contest was quite falsified. Accepting the figures, at their face value, Blenheim, Blenheim Suburbs, and Picton, which may be regarded as the urban parts of the province, polled between them a total of 1952 votes out of a total valid poll of 3452, so that the ratio of voting between town and country works out very evenly, the actual population, urban and rural, being more or less equal. Of the 1952 urban votes (town, votes) no fewer than 1272 were against daylight saving, while 680 favoured the other two issues combined. In other words the town, votes were nearly 2 to 1 against a repetition of the Sidey experiment—a result which will surprise most people. It may be remarked that the Marlborough Province lends itself admirably to a true expression of general opinion upon tho daylight saving issue, for tho population is nearly evenly divided between town and country dwellers, and the country people represent all classes of the farming community—dairymen, agriculturists, and pastoralists. Emphatic figures against daylight saving came from such dairying districts as Rai Valley, Canvastown, Mahakipawa, and Koromiko.

Indicative of the significance of the poll is the reference made to it bv Mr W. J. Girling, M.P., in a speech at the Post and Telegraph officers' reunion on Saturday night. The member for Wairau, who voted for Mr Sidey's Bill for a trial for one summer, has decided that it is his duty to his constituents to oppose a repetition.' "It can," he said, "easily be seen what the feeling of the people of Marlborough is, and there are indications also as to the feeling in other parts of New Zealand. If you think you are going to have daylight saving again next year you are sadly mistaken. In many respects it has been a great success, but the point is that a majority of people consider that it imposes a hardship on the man on the land. The farmers are surely entitled to our consideration, and we must see that they suffer no longer on that account."

BOWLERS UNITE IN SUPPORT. The Summer Time measure received support from Christchurch bowlers at last night's meeting of the Christchurch Bowling Centre. "How dbout this daylight saving?" asked Mr E. H. Heaicy.

Mr D. E. Wood moved, and Mr Healey seconded the following motion, which was carried: —"That this Centre is strongly in favour of the continuation of the Summer Time Bill and trusts that it will be re-enacted this year."

Those in opposition to daylight saving are strong in working against it, and it behoves us who favour it to express our views strongly too," remarked the chairman (Mr F. J. Good).

A member said that it would be a good thing if the measure was extended to include the month of March in 1929.

It was decided that the Centre should communicate with other New Zealand Centres suggesting that a united effort should be made in favour ot the measure.

The secretary (Mr E. W. Wade) mentioned that previously Mr Sidey had been written to by the Dominon Centre assuring him that he had the support of J 6,000 bowlers in the Dominion, and he had expressed very great pleasure at having so strong a force of bowlers in favour of his Summer Time Bill.