SUMMER TIME.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19413, 12 September 1928, Page 14

SUMMER TIME.

MR SIDEY'S NEW BILL.

an unfavourable report.

/PUSS ASaOCULTXOX TSLBCHIAII.)

WELLINGTON, September 11

Mr E. P. Lee (Oainaru) brought up the report of the special committee on the Bill. He mentioned that witnesses called by the Committee included representatives of the Railway Department, who stated that .the dual system as proposed by the Bill could be carried out only with difficulty, requiring additional train services, but not securing additional traffic. The Post and Telegraph Department said the proposed change could be met only by additional expense,, but there was no prospect of additional revenue. Sports bodies generally favoured the Bill, farmers' unions were divided on the question, waterside workers generally favoured the Bill of last year but thought the present Bill would cause confusion unless adopted in all ports. For these reasons the Gommitee recommended that the Bill be not allowed to proceed, but that the Government be recommended. to introduce a measure this session uniformly advancing the time throughout New Zealand by half, an hour from October to the second Sunday in; March. Mr Lee traversed the evidence, explaining the difficulties of the Railway Department carrying passengers, . ..especially school children, of the Post and, Telegraph Department /in catchiug mails under the ,dual system. The. Committee was anxious to give the Bill every chance, but they felt the difficulties were so great v tnat they could not come to any other conclusion than that contained in the report.- They, however, having regard to the strong wish expressed by the towns for the Bill, thought'that the proposal to advance ■ our time _by half an hour was. a, fair compromise, and tliat country people mignt very well accord that concession to the towns.

Mr Sidey (Dunedin South) said he recognised that the evidence given by the Railway Department made the position very difficult for the Committee; but he must, point out that while country members said "Let the towns have summer time if they want it," 3 the, whole of the objections raised: by tIM. Railway and Postal Departments-were objectiohs-raised in favour of country; people. He sometimes thought the Government was' not sufficiently alivo to the sentiment behind this, proposal. Tins was so much so that unless it was settled it would continue to be awkward at.future elections; . f '

Mr Hbckly (Rotor ua) was definitely and clearly against tho extension of time recommended. , The report was adopted without op-, position,: and the House rose at 1.9 a.m. J'