DAYLIGHT SAVING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19806, 29 November 1927, Page 14

DAYLIGHT SAVING.

Sir, —"Underground Farmer," in his reply to % 'One Who Knows," exhibits an airy indifference to consistency and a lack of that sporting spirit that he advises those that differ from him, to cultivate. He belittles the farmers' disabilities and because milking has to start in the dark in winter, can see nothing wrong with an innovation that may require a farmer to continue working an extra hour in the dark, alss in the summer mornings, thus robbing him of that compensation of davlight milking that the longar days should afford him. He reminds the farmer that ho is not the only one tnat works in the dark, as quite a lot of other workers have to do likewise; but mark the contrast in treatment that "Underground Farmer" approves. The farmer is advised to buy an extra lantern and to work a further hour in darkness m order that the other workers may enjoy an extra hour's sport! In other words, one class is to make the sacrifices without any benefits, while the other class gets the benefits without any sacrifices ! With regard to his facts, a little more accuracy would not be amiss; for instance, no one (except the blind) works in the darkness, night workers and those in mines have adequate artificial light provided; they, work in* "shifts," and consequently are not governed by the same hours as other workers, and the new order does not increase their daylight or that of anyone else. Altering the clock does not alter the length of the day by so much as a fraction of a second, but it does upset the whole social fabric, causing inconvenience, confusion and dissension. The daylight is provided by the sun and all beyond the hours devoted to work is available to be enjoyed, used or wasted, as the individual may choose. In conclusion, objectors are urged to fall into line, or, as others put it, to give the new system a "fair" trial. This raises the question, what is meant by a fair trial ? Does it mean that uhoso who are inconvenienced should refrain from pointing out how or where' the shoe pinches and that they should mako shift and suffer in silence and co-operate to perpetuate what they don't believe in, leaving it to its supporters to acclaim its virtues ? Obviously the inevitable consequence of such a course would toe to make the measure a permanent one. Should not the aim and object of a fair trial be to ascertain by all possible .means what are the faults and objections to, rather than the benefits' of, the innovation? YV. Johnstone.