The Hawera Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 1926. NO SUMMER TIME THIS YEAR

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 26 August 1926, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 1926. NO SUMMER TIME THIS YEAR

Delivered every evening by 5 o’clock in Hawera, Manaia, Nonnanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki. Kaponga, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere, Eraser Road and Ararata.

Although there is no hard ancl fast rule, it is the recognised practice, when a meeting divides equally and the decision hangs upon the casting vote of the chairman, for that gentleman to favour, maintenance of the status quo. When, therefore, the division lists in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon returned equal support for and against, the third reading of the Summer Time Bill, Sir Walter Carncross was but following precedent when he -added his name to the Noes, thus defeating the measure. Nevertheless, the decision of the second Chamber —especially after it had passed the. second reading and put the Bill through committee without amendment —com.es as a. painful surprise. Whether the principle of the Summer Time Bill be right or wrong—and we believe it to be right—the fact remains that it was passed by the representatives of the people, only to be thrown out now by a legislative assembly that cannot, by the wildest stretch of imagination, be considered to reflect opinion in ithe country. Our contemporary, the Taranaki Herald, put. the position very neatly earlier in the week, when it said l , ‘ ‘ i £ the, Council rejects summer time, it will give a severe blow to the existence of a 'Chamber that is tolerated rather than admired.” The. Council —“these garrulous old gentlemen,” the Herald disrespectfully calls the members —has delivered its blow, and “daylight saving,” for the second time, in the his'torv of New Zealand, has been denied

to the people after their elected representatives have voted! to introduce it. That may be a blessing; but it is certainly not democracy. A glance at some of the arguments' advanced by opponents of the Bill in the Uppei House does not, increase one’s respect for the intelligence of that Chamber. The lion. Y. 11. Reed said farmers were not prepared for suc-h an innovation, and he proposed allowing them time to prepare for it. What is there to prepare for? Does Mr Reed prepare to-dav for shaving to-morrow'? There mav 'be some very slight adjustment necessary when the clocks are first advanced, although that will be .a matter of a dav or two only; but there is nothing at'all in the way of preparation that could not. be attended to the day before the new time operates. In any case, Mr Rood sat in. the Lower House for the greater part of the fifteen years that Mr T. K. Sidey has been battling with this Bill. If the Bay of Islands cannot prepare in fif teen years, it is in danger of going unprepared for ever. Air Reed and the Hon. Mr Newman did, however, undertake to support the measure if it should ngain come up fron the House of Representatives next session, so, provided that, the lion, member for Dunedin South has not lost heart, there appears an added hope for next yeai. No man, not even Solomon in all his wisdom, can say absolutely what the effect, of summer time in New Zealand would be; but .anyone who has studded its application in other countries can form a fairly accurate opinion; and in this connection- —having in view the reappearance of the, Bill next session we commend to readers the remarks of Mr H. G„ Dickie, MJP., when speak- | ing on the second reading in the House of Representatives: —

I have spent, six summers under summer-time conditions in Great Britain. France, Italy, ail'd North America, so I can speak with some experience of the system, and as to its effect in those countries. When the period ends in September m England and Scotland, there is _alw£t'\- a clamour to have it extended a week or two longer. Sc far as the farming community iat Home is concerned, they appear to be indifferent as to whether the Act is in force or, not. Certainly the. town people reap a groat benefit from it. It has proved a splendid innovation so far as the health of the people is concerned At one time we commenced shearing in my district at six o’clock in the morning, .and worked until six in the evening. Now they have gone half-way so far as the time is concerned, and we shear from half-past five to half-past five. Farmers who work the whole of the existing daylight cannot be affected by the proposed Bill at all. . ‘.So far as our dairy factories are concerned, they have to make their time, to suit the cows, but they will probably receive up to ten in. the summer time, a's. against nine o’clock standard time. Tlieir time is in the. best interests of the industry, and therefore they will keep open until ten o’clock to receive. I just; want to say, in conclusion, that f look upon this proposal, so far as New Zealand is concerned, as an. ex-T>ei-inieivt, but am groin" to give it I,IV support. It- is only for four months, and I am sure the farmers m the Taranaki district are sufficiently enterprising to give it a trial.