" DAYLIGHT SAVING."

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15390, 27 August 1913, Page 8

" DAYLIGHT SAVING."

When Mr. Massey was appealing to the electorates as Leader of the Reform Party he emphasised his constitutional objection to "fad" legislation and announced that it would receive no encouragement if he were entrusted with power. His attitude on the so-called " Daylight Saving" Bill is consistent with his campaign utterances for he refuses, without more convincing arguments than have yet been offered., to give it the endorsement practically essential to its passage into law. The "Daylight Saving" agitation is based upon "fad" and is distinctly opposed to the general interests of the ' public, in town as .in country.

Upon the assumption that more time •; will* thus be available for athletics • it is proposed to disturb the entire social, industrial, - and commercial life of the community. •' Athletics are good— pursued with reason and common sense— it ; 18 ; re ' posterous to suggest that-U*cy. cannot be adequately provided for without making the whole' population start work an hour earlier than they need or desire. As the Herald has repeatedly pointed out there is not an instance on record of any organised trade having attempted to shorten the day's work at one end only. The Eight Hour Day has steadily evolved from the long-hours system by starting work later and stopping work earlier. The only exceptions to this are to be found in the occupations which for the sake of public convenience .start later still and do not suspend operations as early. Industries . working • by "shifts" obviously do not come under this otherwise universal and invariable rule. Yet in the face this invariable and unquestionable indication of human nature and natural inclination, it is calmly proposed to pull everybody. out of bed an hour before there is any normal necessity or to encroach upon that early morning leisure which is so obviously valued by those who are able to enjoy it. - The cities are notoriously the happy hunting grounds of faddists," great multitudes having a very, sheeplike tendency to follow blindly in the track of " bell-wethers" but fortunately for our city-populations the agriculturalists ;.-. are ;: not as easily misled. They realise much more promptly the bearing upon their life of pretentious innovations and are exhibiting a very sensible determination not to have their interests assailed by the well-meaning but meddlesome gentlemen who have discovered a. way" of moving about the hands of- the national clock. Mr. Massey very shrewdly points}; out that nobody knows what r confusion may arise if "Daylight Saving" is ■ carelessly adopted and enforced. In ' the United Kingdom a much '• more desirable ;: scheme, that for ; national insurance, has been found on trial i to bristle with unforeseen difficulties. It may safely be taken for granted that if any New Zealand government or parliament l is foolish enough to become sponsor for this uncalled-for interference with ; national proclivities the resulting difficulties, now unforeseen because unconsidered, will prove great enough to cause greatpublic discontent and »; pronounced: expression of antagonistic £, public opinion at the following election.