7 O’CLOCK SUNRISE DAYLIGHT SAVING SCHEME FOR N.Z.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22971, 14 June 1949, Page 5

7 O’CLOCK SUNRISE DAYLIGHT SAVING SCHEME FOR N.Z.

WELLINGTON, June 14

The adoption of a 7 o’clock sunrise daylight saving proposal which was considered by the Government in 1947 and rejected is again urged by Mr. A. H. Larkman, M.I. Mech. E„ Wanganui, in a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Mr. P. Fraser. The objective is to bring about the maximum use of daylight by roughly stabilising sunrise at 7 a.m. the year ripund As near as matters, the sun rises a minute earlier each day for half the year, and a minute later each day for the other half-year. Advantage can be taken of this, says Mr. Larkman, by regulating clocxs to gain a minute a day for six months from the end of June, and lose a. minute daily for six months from the end of December. Our present halfhour daylight saving means that a trial of the proposal, to “take-off" smoothly from our present measure, would preferably commence at the end of July.

Benefits Claimed

Mr. Larkman says the benefits which would follow adoption of this proposal are:—

1. A large decrease _in the general lighting load during spring and autumn, and almost total elimination of both lighting and heating loads during summer —an economy which can be availed of at no cost to the Government and consider-

able financial saving to consumers. 2. In so far as these demands are met by hydro-electric plant, hydraulic heads—lake levels —would be built up for use in winter, and, in so far as they are met by burning coal or fuel oil, such load reduction would permit the accumulation of stocks against heavy winter demands—and/or against demands for cement

manufacture. 3. Units of plant, hydiaulic and coalburning, which are now of necessity run for over long periods under overload conditions —which lead to and have caused breakdowns —could be relieved for more frequent overhaul. 4. The engineers carrying the responsibility and burden of keeping this plant running under such conditions would have seme easement. Reduced Electricity Peaks

5. The domestic, street and shop window lighting load would be shifted away from the late afternoon tram and electric train loads and so reduce the worst “overall load peak’ during all but mid-winter months.

Mr. Larkman says the three hours normally unused daylight which this proposal makes available by midsummer offers other benefits of far greater importance than helping to overcome the electricity shortage. He adds: —

1. People would enjoy far better health because of increased hours of sunshine. Factories, offices, shops and schools could be closed, with the day’s work done, and hours of sunshine ahead to enjoy in garden, or at active daylight sports. 2. The shortage of sports fields would be a thing of the past because of extra daylight enabling greater use

of those we have. 3. The road accident risk Is far greater at night than in daylight, and the reduction in motoring at night would considerably reduce deaths on our roads.