SUMMER TIME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 10 August 1928, Page 6

SUMMER TIME

LOCAL SCHEMES

PJ&UTA3WN TO PREMIER .■:::/

(BIT falogpft&b.—Preaa Aaaociation)

WELLINGTON, 9th August. A'large and representative deputa-tion-waited on the Prime Minister today, to urge that facilities should be given for the passage of the Summer Time (Local Empowering) Bill, which lias been introduced in the House of Representatives by Mr T. K. Sidey. The deputation was introduced bv Mr Sidey, arid was representative of the Wellington Gity Council, a,number of local bodies outside Wellington, the Petone ..Borough Council, the Hutt Borough " Council, the Civic League, the Associated Chambers of Commerce, the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, the Manufacturers' Association, the Employers' Association, the Trades and Labour Councili the medical profession, the New Zealand Educational Institute, the KindergaHeh Association, the National Council of Women,' the Mothers' Union, and .the. Women's branch of the Medical ,'-.; ' ■■jtilv- Coates promised to consider the ihatter and to acquaint Mr Sidey later of his decision. ■ Mp Sidey said he thought that the deputation was one-of the most repre- , sentative that had waited on the Prime Minister. Its representative nature showed ; tfie strength of the sentiment in favour.' of the larger towns and cities , being given the power to adopt summer •time. They recognised that there were difficulties in the way of the adoption V of:'the . proposals in the Bill, but the measure would not affect the railways, steamer or the Post and Telegraph They' relied: on V. 3FibseSyservices being : able to meet the ' life*Lto.'say, Ithat, "while he had introto'try to meet the very demand that existed for Summer not regard:- the new ,meapislS^'e.Vas: being anything like so satisfaeformer measure, which sought J'£b.-make the adoption of .Summer Time _ He was quite sure that the •I.Act, passed last year had not been thor- , Roughly tried. There were, many Ways *iin which more might have been done " in' order to make the measure .more thsvn it actually was. .The of the universal measure did ->* not involve anything like the difficulties v *;that"iocal schemes would \mean. Tlis •Reason was now getting on, and what tha • wanted was the Prime Minis•te'r'S' assurance that facilities would.be Igiveri to enable Parliament to deal with "the-new measure. viz The Deputy-Mayor of Wellington M. F;. Luckie), in the sb- ' senceof the Mayqr from the city, urgj_;ed Mr Coates to give the fullest possible ; facilities to .allow -the new Bill \o pass V Jas "early,as possible this session. It would - be necessary for the local bodies '.'to introduce local schemes by special tirder, and 28 days would have to elapse that-order could .be confirmed, ' ;;herice they "asked ; for 1 the passage of .-the Bill at the earliest moment- The City Council had ipund that .-.effect could not be given to local schemes Parliamentary authority, and it had ; .suhseqt|ently got in touch with the - and 'larger .towns, asking '"•them to support the promotion of on t;Empowering BilL,- replies khad been ieceivedfrqni half-a-dozen <f larger cities and towns. , The.depu--tatioh was representative* of all "classes Ipi the community in all, the congested . "icentres ifhd had been disappointed at Clhe tecent defeat of the Summer Time ••Bill; ' They felt that the Empowering 'Bill,' fic^eyer^would r receive; 6 SU P" '. "port of many members who had-opposed I the universal Bill. .The measure .would; JjUndoubtedJfy be beneficial to,, indoor i Workers, and for that: reason they believed, that, it,-w»uld..appeal to members of »>Parliaw'nt.' 'it; was appreciated that, jjhere "would be certain; difficulties arid * But :.neyertheles§;. they believt.'ed that local * arrang'einents i could be "'iti&Ae to meet-those difficulties. They J : Jelt- sure that that class of the com- , i Thuhity ' .which/" li,Ved Hn the Open air "woUld not begrudge their less fortunate =•. *iell6w-citj'zeus, the. opportunity of par- - ->tioipatihg ,iri ; the benefits' of more sun"Jight. which' they would get under the mi" : v: -.. y r ■ .-•• • . ""^Hr.Sidey^esplained , that, the Bill was a permissive measure. It gave the.local authorities power t'ci introduce, sUmmer '"'tsky'an<J,it might.be assumed that if authority were to. adopt a ! proposal of the; kind it'would only do spijaifter the surrounding localities and* borpughs bad been consulted, and when therevwas, something like unanimity be-tween-them. The Bill did not- oblige daylight saving to be introduced in any ; district, it just gave the option

. FREWER'S BEPLYj Replying to the deputation", Mr Coates * *ai3- thfrfc the proposal Jwas* entirely Wm, and it would require some ■Consideration. For instance, he could 'tjiinif of difficulties which wouW arise 4rr connection with the transport of work-fe;V-He failed to see how transport •could he Arranged to meet cases of dif"<frculty which would arise, but doubt- ■'• : lesa the deputation 1 had some, ideas as 7 -to how these could be overcome. He 'thought there was.'legislative authority now for local authorities to adopt clay4ight;sa.ving if they wished. • '*' "Mi- Sidey saM-' that awards ; of the -Arbitration Coirt, and certain statutes :;. prevented this using done ii Mr D. G. Sullivan, M,?., said that -the ehristchurch City Council, which -supported the Bill, allowed work to be rcommenced and finished half an hour Nearly now, hut if the Bill were passed irthe council proposed to extend'this another half-hour. 1. , Mr Luckie pointed out that a voluii--t'ary scheme could not be made to apply -universally, as advantage would "be taken ,7.;by some people to try to make, it work '"disastrously. ■• ■. , I - Mr Coates said that he would be very "glad to consider the representations of -the deputation, but he would not like "to make a definite commitment that the • Bill would be given all the facilities ot * a Government Bill. He would consider the matter and let Mr Sidey know later -"what facilities could be given. He bad -no doubt that the Bill would have L o i be considered thoroughly by members ' of Parliament before he could give any indication of Parliament's wish in the matter. If members had decided views on the matter, then that in itself would ■ have some influence on what facilities should be given for the Bill s consideration. , , , , ii / ~ Mr Luckie said that he and others had had indications from a good many members of Parliament who hnd.opposed the universal Bill, and who represented country constituencies, that they were very glad to see that the present Bill had been brought down. They had promised to give the measure their support. • : All the deputation wanted was that the ' present Bill should have an opportunity of being considered on its merits, and V that it should not be held up because • ; it had been introduced at a late ptage in ~. the session. '

-•In reply to the Prime Minister, Mr Luckie said that the Bill would mainly affect boroughs and cities. -"Mr Sidey said that the feeling of the House- on the matter would be tested wb'en the Bill came on for second readin£:"on 29th August. The Prime Minister would then get an idea of what 'support it was-going to receive from ihe -House.