Manawatu Daily Times Daylight Saving

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6537, 20 February 1928, Page 6

Manawatu Daily Times Daylight Saving

Mr. Sidey objects to the suggestion of a plebiscite on daylight saving—a suggestion made by a city newspaper which is hardly likely to meet either with wide approval or to settle the matter satisfactorily one way or the' other. It might be very interesting to have the opinions of the electors recorded on this much debated question. But are there not many other equally interesting subjects on which the politicians would like to know the mind of the people, at least in their own electorates?

We are afraid that the farmers are not likely to look with enthusiasm on the proposed plebiscite. They contend that daylight saving has been forced on the community by the inhabitants of the cities and towns. They may contend further that, as the borough population in the Dominion exceeds the country population, any determination of the question by a popular plebiscite would be unfair to them. Nor would it be possible to dispute the reasonableness of this argument

There is however no unanimity of opinion in the cities in favour of the operation of daylight saving. The president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, a city business man, declared last week that his experience of the system has convinced him that “it is no good." He does not seem to have enlarged on the point and shown in what way the system merits the condemnation which he has passed upon it. Some of the members of the Christchurch Presbytery also have expressed their opposition to the scheme, the explanation of their disapproval of it bing that the attendance at their churches has declined .

It may however be stated with a great deal of confidence that the judgment of a majority of the residents of the cities and towns is favourable to daylight saving. For this reason, if for no other, a proposal to submit the question of the continuance of the system to a popular vote should not receive the support of Parliament, however desirous and* anxious some members might be to be relieved of the responsibility of declaring themselves one way or the other on the matter. The question is one which should be decided by Parliament and which Parliament must not be encouraged to shirk. The country has now had over three months’ experience of the operations of 'the Summer Time Act and our legislators should be in a position to express their judgment on the merits and demerits of the innovation. But will Parliament decide the matter on its merits? In election year other considerations sway our legislators. ,

The annual social evening and prize giving ceremony ol St. David*3 Presbyterian Sunday School t(jok placo on Friday evening when the prizes in connection with the Young Worshippers’ League were distributed. A boy of eight years of age, named Douglas Goughian, residing with his parents in Albert Street was admitted to the Public Hospital on Saturday evening suffering from a fractured leg as the result of a fall from a tree. Masters Tony and Mike Abraham certainly did good work for the Acclimatisation Society on Saturday morning. Each armed with a gaff they made for the Manawatu river, and within half an hour returned with an ccl measuring 5 feet and .weighing just on 211bs. In the afternoon in the same place they landed a 15 pounder. The big fish was considerably larger than sither of the boys..

Taking advantage of the Railway Department’s Sunday excursion, over 200 persons left Lambton yesterday via Wairarapa, for the Manawatu Gorge, where a delightful picnic was spent. Refreshments were provided by the Railway Department and the return journey was made via the Manawatu. Members of the party expressed satisfaction at this popular innovation by the Department. The annual conferences of newspaper men throughout Hew Zealand will bo held in Welington this week, commencing today. The different organisations which will meet will be the United Press Association, the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association, and the New Zealand branch of the Empire Press Union. A considerable number of the delegates arrived at Wellington on Saturday morning, and it is expected that the remainder will arrive to-day.