SUMMER TIME

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 8, 10 July 1934, Page 9

SUMMER TIME

EXTENSION OF PERIOD

FARMERS' OBJECTIONS

A remit protesting against the extension of Summer Time beyond the October-March period was adopted at today's meeting of- the executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union.

Mr. H. E. Blyde (Tarauaki), who moved the remit, said that actually the extension of Summer Time meant increased cost to the dairy farmer. Farmers had to get up in the dark and there was extra cost for lighting. It must be remembered that farmers could not exactly work by the sun. Under the regulations, cream and milk had tobe brought into the factory at a certain time. Another point was that as farmers had to work in the dark it took longer to bring the cows in. Farmers' wives and their children were also affected. An extension of Summer Time would undoubtedly be a hardship to a good number of dairy farmers. Mi-. L. Hammond said that sheep farmers probably would not object to the half-hour operating the whole year round. In his view, however, it was a retrograde-step so far as the dairy industry was concerned. Tho president (Mr. W. J. Poison, M.P.) said the question was a vexed one in "another place." When the matter came up last session it had been stated by members with farming interests that they would be quite willing to support the half-hour, provided it operated all the year round. If that were done he did not think it would cause any hardship to farmers. It was the "infernal- change-over at half-time" that was the nuisance. Mr. H. O. Mollsop (Auckland) said that on behalf of some districts.he represented he would like to oppose that point of view. He believed that the half-hour from October to March met with pretty general approval. Mr. H. J. MeLeavy (Manawatu) said he had had experience of early rising and he found there was some danger in getting up too early. Mr. Polsbn: There is a lot of danger in connection with stopping up too late. . . ■ Mr. MeLeavy said he had one or two bulls on his. property, and if one wentout in the- dark without a pitchfork one would not'get the cows home.. An amendment recommending the operation of a half-hour of Daylight Saving all the year round was defeated. The, remit was then adopted.