SUMMER TIME CHANGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20071, 8 October 1928, Page 11

SUMMER TIME CHANGE.

EASY WORKING EXPECTED. MORE TIME FOR GAMES. MATCHES DURING THE WEEK. New Zealand's second trial of summer time, commencing on Sunday next, will slip almost imperceptibly into the everyday scheme of things. Clocks aro to bo advanced only half an hour instead of an hour as was the case last year, and the many complexities which restilted at the initial trial of daylight saving will bo minimised. Although Parliament, in the words of Mr. A. M. Samuel, member for Ohineinuri, has in a "spirit of sweet reasonableness" tried to placate the factions for and against summer time by a modified trial, it is to extend over a longer period than was the case last year. Summer time will bo operative throughout tho Dominion from Sunday next until the third Sunday in March. Tho first trial extended from tho first Sunday in Novembor until the first in March. Thero will, therefore, this year bo ovor a month's moro daylight saving. Introduction of tho measuro in practice will probably be on the lines followed last year. City clocks were then- advanced in the small hours of Sunday morning, householders being counselled to make the change before retiring on Saturday evening. One effect of an earlier summer time this year should bo to advance tho commencement of all summer forms of sport. Time for Daily Games. That tho compromise of half an hour summer time does not satisfy all parties affected is evidenced by inquiries mado in Auckland. While representatives of sports bodies join in describing it as a "satisfactory arrangement" proprietors of theatrical houses regard the measure as constituting an adverse influence on their businesses.

Expressing tho view of the cricketers, Mr. E. E. Nalder, chairman of the management committee of the Auckland Cricket Association, said the extra halfhour would make a great difference to practises during the week, although tho Saturday matches would not be greatly affected. Most practice grounds were some distance from the city and players took time in getting to the wickets. They would thus bo able to get more practice with an extra half-hour. An improvement had been shown in Auckland cricket last year, due largely to the longer practices, and thero was no reason why this improvement should not bo maintained. "Several business men joined bowling clubs last year solely because of the extra time available," said Mr. S. Coldicutt, president of the Auckland Bowling Association. Adopting the attitude that "half a loaf was better than no bread," he said the extra half-hour would mean almost as much to bowlers as the whole hour. Club matches could bo played during the week instead of on Saturday. Mr. Coldicutt pointed out that bowling clubs had done much lo keep the measure alive. The Auckland Centre, supported by all clubs, had written to members of Parliament urging the value of summer time. Theatre Manager's Views.

"From a tennis point of view the measure is excellent," said Mr. E. Hickson, president of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association. "We will have more time for evening play, and the extra practice, as it did last year, will tend to improve An interesting feature mentioned bv Mr. Hickson was that prior to last year clubs were overcrowded on Saturdays and there was a definite drift of members leaving the clubs to play on private courts. Without daylight saving club matches could not very well be played in the evenings, with the result that they occupied much time on Saturday afternoons when many players wished to have friendly games. Last year the extra hour seemed to arrest the drift. Thai; advancing the clock will prove very detrimental to all types of amusement houses is the view of theatrical managers, who have always been against the proposal. A director of one wellknown firm controlling picture houses throughout tho Dominion stated the adoption of summer time last year resulted in a loss to his firm of £IO,OOO. This year it wan not expected tho loss would be so great, as tho alteration of the clock was to be only half an hour, but even this change would make a great tiifference. It was doubtful if an alteration in the time of commencing evening amusements would be of any value. Last year the postponement of the evening performance was a failure.