BELIEVED WILL BE A SMALL MAJORITY FOR SOMMER TIME

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6670, 25 July 1928, Page 7

BELIEVED WILL BE A SMALL MAJORITY FOR SOMMER TIME

Difficult to Predict Result of To-day’s Vole BILL DUE FOR SECOND READING ; Times Special. Prom Our’Own, Parliamentary Eeporter. v' WELLINGTON, Ljist Night. It is difficult to predict what the voting will he on the second reading • of Mr. Sidey’s Summer-Time Bill ' which comes on to-morrow. \' v Those who have been picking a \ .card state that there are II doubtful . "totes, and that, reckoning on the numbers In last year’s division, Mr. Sidey will need to get four of these to win. ' - The opponents of'the Bill claim that they will have a majority of three. “ ' Two '■ petitions containing nearly 10,00(1 ‘ signatures asking that summertime should-not bo re-enacted were presented to .the-House on behalf of dairy farmers' in the Dunedin district and farmers in.,the Waitaki district. The • petitions reiterated their objections to the scheme,' viz.— .That it necessitate getting the cows in in the dark in summer: . That farmers _ and women and r children cannot get their necessary [. amount of sleep by reason of having to go to bed in daylight: ; .'That at harvest time the dew is not off the crops when it is time to start work.

The petitioners say that summer-time caters principally for recreation and pleasure and that it is a serious aandi- . cap against the . primary producer on whom the real progress of the Dominion depends, i. On the other hand the Prime Minister I has assured a deputation representing i', city interests that the Bill, will have a “fair tun,” and while it is apparent that some votes which were cast in favour of a trial of the 'scheme last ses--1 sioh may, this time be reversed, it is still possible that a compromise may be ;? effected on the lines of ah extended ; trial.

* It is felt that success for permanency . would be more strongly assured after . two •trials than after one, and while permahency is the main object of those Li; who aro wholeheartedly, supporting tho measure, entertained that tho Legislature' will' agree to give tho scheme a further trial. ' It is- not expected that the pros and cons of daylight saving will bo debated . at.great length on the second reading, ' asl tho advantages and uisadvantages >; •' have i bean very fully donated in tho pasty and members have already quite madq up their minds as to how they intend to votei; ~ ; • • , It is suggested in the course of lobby inquiries that \ possibly the House of Representatives may bo inclined to pass the measure for a second trial, especially as a compliment to Mr. T. K. Sidey, who' has “fathered” th« Bill under s various names for about 20 years, and Is now about to retire from political life.