NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 84, 6 October 1933, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Summer Time Again. The 1933-34 season of Summer Time begins officially at 2 a.m. on Sunday next, when time 7 is advanced half an Lour. This extra half-hour of daylight after the day's work is done will be enjoyed until the middle of March next, unless some alteration is made by Parliament in the meantime. Setting tomorrow at a few minutes past six, the sun on Sunday, after the clocks have been advanced, will not set until 6.33 p.m., and it should be light enough to work in the garden until about 7 p.m. Sunrise on Sunday will be at 5.44 a.m. Where the Sun Shines. Blenheim must be well in the running for the New Zealand sunshine record for the month, of September, the total recorded being 212 hr 3min, an average of 7hr 4min per day, although, there was one day on which th« sun did not shine at all. Nelson's- record was 206 hr 40min, a daily average of 6hr 53min. Napier, one of New Zealand's sunniest spots, had rather less sunshine than usual during the month, although most places in the Dominion had more than usual. The amount of bright sunshine recorded at Lake Te--kapo, in the South Island, was 227.5 hours, which beats Blenheim's record. But Lake Tekapo has a very small population around it to appreciate such a wealth of solar radiation, so the palm for populated centres can be awarded to Blenheim. Wellington was not very far behind with its 192.1 hours. Friendly Societies. Membership of friendly societies do» creased during the year ended March 31, 1932, from 105,660 to 102,052, equal to 3.41 per cent.; according to a report presented to Parliament yesterday. The total accumulated funds of the societies increased from £4,277,715 to £4,398,158, the average capital per member being £43 Is lid as compared with £40.9s 9d at the end of, . 1931. Net interest credited to the sick and funeral funds during tho year totalled £164,841, equal toa rate of £4 lls lOd per cent., as compared with £5 3s Id per cent, during the previous year. The number of members who died was 834, equal to 8.00 per thousand members at risk, as compared with 874 and 8.18 respectively during 1931. Matter of Policy. s f There was a round of laughter in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon when Mr. H. G. E. Mason (Labour, Auckland Suburbs) gave notice to ask- the Prime Minister: (1) Whether he had read tho following portion of the reports in the newspaper Press of the speech of the Government candidate in tho recent Lyttelton byelection, delivered at St. Martins: "The Labour man, said the speaker, had then gone on to tell the audience that they would get new boots, new suits, and new carpets in their homes. Such claptrap had never been hoard before"; and whether this expression of Government policy meant that tho people might not hope for any necessary now bpots, clothing, or furniture under tho pre-r sent Government. (2) What plan had the Government to enable tho people to do without these necessities. Big Land Seal. . . A cash payment of £2-5,000 is involved in the purchase of the Te Kouka station, of about 1600 acres, in the Onga Onga district, 50 miles south of Napier, by Sir James Gunson, of Auckland, from Mr. John A. Macfarlane, states the "New- Zealand Herald." The purchase is being made by Sir James for his son, Mr. Geoffrey Gunsou, who has already spent some.years farming in the Hawlfc'a Bay district. Ncgotiationsjin connection with' tho sale of the property have been in progress for somo time, but,have'been delayed pending certain legal formalities in progress in