DAYLIGHT SAVING

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 174, 19 April 1929, Page 11

DAYLIGHT SAVING

THE COUNTRY ATTITUDE A SMALLER VOTE PROPORTIONATE OPPOSITION REMAINS Ah canna thole Daylicht Savin’ i’ the Simmer; It’s nae guid ava i’ the Spring; Ah could dae wi’ it fine i’ the Autumn and Winter, But A’m feart then the toon folk wad “sing.” The foregoing verse by a writer signing herselt "Tussock” is probably the most succinct and pertinent summary of the attitude of country people to the vexed problem of daylight saving which has yet been published. It appears in the current issue of the “N.Z. Dairy Produce Exporter” at the head of an article recording the result of an inquiry by that paper into the attitude of country readers. A year ago a similar vote was conducted after trial of the experiment of one hour made that year. On that occasion country people were quite emphatic in recordin" a very neavy vote against the innovation. Votes were received from 24,030 people, of whom 22,915 were against the one hour summer time and 1115 in favour of it. In the past season the one hour was reduced to half an hour. Accordingly in conducting the postal vote just concluded the “N.Z. Dairy Produce Exporter” asked its readers to vote on three issues: (1) In favour of one hour; (2) in favour of half an hour; (3) against any alteration at all. Final fibres in the poll just conducted show tnat on this occasion country people have not been nearly so vocal in expressing their views. Instead of 24,000 votes being recorded, as was the case a year ago, just over 5000 people troubled to express their opinion. The proportion going on record against any alteration at all in the clock was still heavy, 85 per cent, of the total'vote being agiynst any alteration at all; T 1 per cent, indicated their preparedness to accept the half-hour compromise, and 4 per cent, were in favour of the full hour being adopted, as was the case twelve months ago. This vote would seem to indicate that a fair percentage of dairy farmers are prepared to accept the half-hour compromise, or that they realise it to be hopeless to combat the feeling in favour of it ir the cities. Diverse Views. Many voters, in returning their coupons, took the opportunity to express their views. In several instances these were vigorously worded, while in others some little humour was introduced. It. will be of interest to reproduce some of these remarks:— “A cruel shame for the women and children altering the clock.” “Too early to catch the cream lorry—average 3001 b. fat; am selling my cows this spring.” “It’s a purse in our line of living.’’ “They can’t alter the sun, moon and tides —why the clock ?” “2 L with daylight saving! Let the farmers have some sleep!” “Every farmer ought to register against this obnoxious measure. An absolute curse, to the dairy farmer 1” “This farce has brought nothing but misery and trouble to every farmer’s home in New Zealand. The poor children are taken from their beds in the dark in the morning, and have miles to walk to school. It is high time it was struck out.” “It is a gross injustice to inconvenience the primary producer, who has not one minute to spare from year to year, in order to accommodate the wishes of townspeople, who have eight spare hours each day. We would gladly present Mr. Sidey with a set of toys in order to prevent him playing with the clock.” “The full hour is an abomination; tho half-hour compromise much to be preferred.” “I am in favour of the half-hour all the year round, making days more even, and the cows will get milked before dark.” , , ,; “If the clock was advanced half an hour permanently, it would greatly benefit most farmers in the North Island, as it is dark before 5 p.m. in the winter by our present Christchurch time, but light long before 7 o’clock.” “Being of necessity very early risers, the whole hour was just a little too much, but I don’t mind if they have the halfhour all the year round.” “If the pleasure-hunters were asked to work the- extra time, or better still, take a turn of farm work, there would be a veil of protest; yet they are doing their best to tire out a hard-wording section of the community. The old pioneers, who in their youth toiled to make Aew Zealand a prosperous country, are getting kicked into the background by the present-day sports and daylight saving fa “Whv can’t the city folk start their work an hour earlier in Hie mornings and leave the farmers out of it? If they must have sport, no one would object, 1 am sure.”