ONUS ON THE GOVERNMENT

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 54, 12 September 1928, Page 10

ONUS ON THE GOVERNMENT

The Special Committee by its report on tho Local Summer Timo Bill and tho House by its acceptance of that report havo thrown on tho Govormuont tho onus of making a concession to the dosiro of the majority for daylight saving. It is not a great coneossion and opinion will be much divided as to whother it is preferable to the local proposal. We are not prepared to agree with the Committee's conelussion, which appears to us to be based upon tho assumption that tho wishes of tho towns aro subordinato to tho complete convenience of tho country and even to the economy of Public Service Departments. Tho people of the towns, it seems, must arrange their hours to meet the convenience of tho Bailway Department, If the townspeople do otherwise (so the chairman of the Committee stated) the Eailway Department would havo to roarrango its timo-tablo or run tho risk of further inroads on traffic by private enterprise. It was practically admitted that privato enterprise would rise to the occasion and meet the transport emergency, and tho Railway Department said in so many words: "Wo aro not prepared to meet this uee3, becauso it would cost us a considerable sum. Please see that private enterprise- does not have tho opportunity of showing that it can do better." Such an attitude will not help to convinco tho public of the Department's capacity and desiro to render service. The Committee further assumed that none of the ineoiiveiiicnco of a dualtimo system should fall upon tlio couutry districts. The arrangements were to be such that tho towns should suffer all the disabilities, and this in spite of the professions of country members

that they were quite willing to allow tlio towns to introduce- tho reform. Wo have yet to be convinced that the dual system would have produced the confusion predicted. We rather incline to the view that local option in tho matter would have been so widely availed of (if available to counties and boroughs alike) that special arrangements would 1 have been necessary in only a few districts. In other words universal summer time would have been brought into operation by local desire. Mr. Sidey admitted this, and it seems to have been one reason for continued opposition by the opponents of the reform. It is a reason that does not strengthen their case. It shows that they realiso the weakness of their own position, that they arc acting against public opinion and that they are determined to obstruct the expression of that opinion. We do not cast any reflection upon the good faith of the Committee. Its wishes were probably good, but its judgment was bad. At tho same time its offer of another half loaf in pla-ce of the one requested will appear to many people as the offer of a crust with the hope that it may choke the recipient. Even tho crust is by no. means certain. The report of the Committee, accepted by the House, kills the private member's Bill. That report is, however, in two parts: First, that the .Bill bo not allowed to proceed, and second, that tho Government be recommended to legislate for a half-hour's summer time. Yet neither the Committee nor the House- can compel tho Government to accept the recommendation. If the Government disregards the recommendation no private member at this stage of the session can give tho House tho opportunity of acting. It is upon the Government, therefore, that tho onus lies of meeting the public wish in this matter. If the wish is not met the private' member will not bo blamed; but tho Government will be. There will be a widespread feeling that tho country members have been allowed to dictate, tho policy, to tho entire exclusion of consideration for tho .towns. We sincerely hope that the Government will not advance excuses for inaction, but will introduce a measure as recommended. This is desirable not only to givo tho country the partial benefit of summer time (and the halfhour is a poor concession) as in the Government's1 own interests to demonstrate its bona fides.