SUMMER TIME

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 5 July 1928, Page 9

SUMMER TIME

FARMERS’ OPPOSITION. PETITION TO PARLIAMENT. The much-discussed question of summer time was belQre the monthly meeting of the Farmers’ Union provincial executive at Hawera to-day. -The petition to be presented against its reenactment was berore the meeting, and was the subject of some discussion. The chairman (Mr. E. J. Betts) referred to the fact that the Bill was coming up at once in the House, and he considered a protest should be made. The secretary read the petition to be sent by the union to Parliament. It gives fully- the reasons against the measure, and the experience of farmers during the> time last year’s Act had been in operation. After a short discussion it was resolved to send a, letter to each of the members of Parliament for Taranaki electorates, strongly emphasising the opposition, of the fanners to the measure and. the disadvantages arising thereirom. m regard to sheep farming the petition stated that the change was of no use, because there was not sufficient daylight to commence at schedule time. A start could not be made with ewes not in the shed, because of the dew on the wool.

Deoiling with dairy farmers, - the petition stated that the enactment was not helpful, because the earlier horn- was an unfair penalty on those who now got up three hours earlier than city people; milk suppliers had to get up at 2 a.m. to provide milk by 7 a.m.; daily herds were disturbed during their natural period of rest and mastication, resulting in a, proved deterioration in quantity- and quality- and a reduction in butter-fat; do ay in the afternoon would result in a long day- and a short night.; large farmers found it impossible to comply with the earlier hours at the factories.

Its enactment last year was distinctly not helpful to any- branch of farming or to the people engaged in the industry, because (a) haymakers could not start earlier because of the dew on the grass; (b) it was inconvenient for men trucking stock—drovers try to avoid traffic as much as possible, but considerable harm was done by trying to force stock through traffic on roads;’ (c) to mothers in rural districts, because an extra hour’s work was thrust on them and rest and leisure were lessened and inconvenience caused in domestic arrangements, making a longer day. for women and children; (d) children were awakened before having full rest and were not ready for school; ,(e) for country children with long distances to travel breakfast time was too early; (f) children returned from school in the heat of the day, which was not conducive to health; (g) mental efficiency of young children was impaired; (h) ,confusion ctf time caused in country districts because some clocks were not altered; (i) farmers and farm workers work from daylight to dark already, and city life was made more attractive by the enactment of summer time, causing a distinct increase in the drift to the towns; (j) the measure operates against the national cry of “more production” by- enabling more time for play, and farmers 1 are satisfied it is not beneficial to country pursuits, and from a production point of view no time is gained through the forced extra hour of daylight. The petitioners therefore besought legislators not to interfere with nature in this matter of legislation. The Bill was strongly condemned, 1 and every effort will be made by the union to prevent its being once more placed on the .statute book.