TIME AND THE COW

Evening Star, Issue 19024, 20 August 1925, Page 3

TIME AND THE COW

MILKING BEFORE DAWN PUTTING THE CLOCK OH PROPOSED DAYLIGHT SAVING [From Ouu Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August 19. The House of Representatives had a little reception after tea to-night discussing in committee Mr T. K. Sidcy’s Summer Time Bill, which to put the clock on for one hour in Now Zealand from November to March. The Minister of Agriculture parenthetically remarked that a groat many changes were going on. “And more to follow,” said Mr Smith (Taranaki), significantly. Air Nosworthy declared that the opposition in the country to the proposal was just as vigorous as _ Air Thompson (Wallace) ; The Bill is as dead as doornails. (Laughter.) Air Lysnar declared that the proposal was one to increase the hours of amusement for the city at the cost of added slavery to the country. “Think of the national aspect,” said Sir John Luke.

“ The national aspect of the women of the cities making owls of themselves instead of human beings living natural lives,” retorted Air Lysnar, who maintained that it meant added hours cl amusement, while the wives and daughters of the fanners rose an hour before dawn.

“ They do that in any case,” interjected Air Holland. Air Lysnar: “If they get up at 4 a.in', they will have to get to bad in daylight, which is unnatural.” Mr Witty; “Tho hon. gentleman seems to forget that his mother used to put on the clock an hour to try to get him to wake up, and then he didn’t wake for an hour.” A Alernhor: “And he’s not awake yet.” (Laughter.) After some talk about milking the gentle-eyed cow in tho rosy flush of dawn Air Witty put'forward a touching plea for the suburban family man, who would got more out of life by having an extra hour in his garden. Air APLennan put forward a really sensible suggestion that the Bill would best apply to the House of Representatives, which needed to start an hour earlier and knock off earlier. Air APLennan greatly dislikes late sittings, and there was a degree of pathos in this modest attempt to institute day sittings now in Parliament. It was, however, no good to farmers, said the member for Franklin, though ho said he would support this daylight saving scheme if it was made to apply only to cities. He thought it would be advantageous to tho city workers. Air r.angstone, observing that Afr Sidey had brought forward tliis hardy annual since 1909, said that if persistency was a virtue Air Sidey must be tbe most virtuous member in tho House. Air SjcTby made an earnest effort to induce members to vote for the Bill, but ho said ho would not go over the old arguments which he had answered so often. He appealed to tho House to go to a division on the essential clause, and if that was rejected let tho House got on with other business. Air APAlillan desired to report progress, so that the Bill would bo put aside, and not bo brought before tho House again this session. The country oppositionists were rudely shocked by a, charge by Air Corrigan, who rushed into tho breach with a declaration that milk could not bo got to factories early enough in summer time, for the earlier it was got in the better the quality of the cream. For this reason alone be urged that tho proposal should be given a trial. This assault was met by a counteroffensive by Air Lyo, from Waikato, the “centre of cowdom,” who claimed that the Bill would inflict untold hardship on tho women and children who milked the cows.

Air APCombs landed a high explosive shell into the ranks of the opponents of the Bill by declaring that lie bad not received one complaint from dairy farmers in bis constituency for supporting tho Bill. His dairy farmer constituents in tbe Chatham Islands expected him to support the Bill. (Laughter.) “I object,” said the member for Lyttelton, “to members trying to sneak around the roar and stab tho Bill in tbe back by having progress reported.” “ If wo report progress we will kill this Bill,” declared the sententious Air Armstrong, who expressed his belief that the Bill would be beneficial to everybody, though he did not see why they should not shorten the day by taking an hour off each evening without getting up any earlier In the morning. “Why work at all,” murmured a Alinistorinlist, who was dozing upon bis cosy bench. “The debate on this Bill is a sheer waste of valuable time,” declared Air Howard indignantly, who alleged that every member had bis mind made up how to vote. Progress should be reported, for much more important business was awaiting tho attention of tho House.

Air Harris accused those desiring progress to be reported of being afraid to vote against the Bill, and. attempting to kill it by a subterfuge. The motion to report progress was defeated by 32 votes to 29. A CLOSE CALL.

The third and essential clause of the Bill, stating that the time for general purposes shall during the period of summer be one hour in advance of the standard time, was defeated by one vote, the division being 30 to 29, whereupon Air Sidey secured leave to report progress on tho voices.