ALTERING THE CLOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20076, 13 October 1928, Page 12

ALTERING THE CLOCK.

SUMMER TIME TO-MORROW. THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS. THEATRE AND SCHOOL HOURS. Parliament's eleventh-hour decision to give summer time a secoud trial, on a modified plan, has given the public little space in which to ponder upon the near approach of tho change. Experience of tho initial trial last year, and the fact that on this occasion the hands will he moved forward only half-an-hour instead of an hour, are factors expected to remove most of tho little difficulties which then resulted.

Officially, timo throughout Now Zealand will be advanced 30 miuutes from two o'clock to-morrow morning, and will remain so until two o'clock on the morning of Sunday, March 17, 1929. In tho case of Government institutions and the City Council, the strict letter of the law will be followed by moving the hands of clocks forward half-an-hour immediately " two " has been struck to morrow morning. The adjustment of privately-owned clocks in Queen Street will in most cases be " left to the caretaker," but it is expected there will be littlo lack of uniformity by the first business hour on Monday. Last year's advice to householders, to advance clocks and watches before retiring this evening, may be repeated with profit for the benefit of those who purpose attending church services in tho morning or catching ferry or motor services, for all will conform to summer time from to-morrow.

Post office employees, night-shift engineers, policemen and nightwatchmen will enjoy a " short night" to-morrow through the advancement of time. Since this year it means only half-an-hoar, it is probable that in most cases there will be no subsequent adjustment. Those fortunate enough to be on shift to-morrow night will just work half-an-hour less and retain the benefit, unless they are unfortunate enough to lose it again by being on the job when the clock is put back next March. All train services but one in the Auckland district will conform to summer time. The exception is the train ordinarily leaving Maungaturoto for Auckland at 7.40 a.m., arriving here at 3.50 p.m. In this case, for the benefit of dairy farmers whose produce is carried, the times will be altered to 7.55 a.m. and 4.5 p.m. respectively. An advance of a bare half-hour is not expected this year to prompt theatres to alter, the times of their evening performances—they will conform to summer time, in the meanwhile, at least. The Auckland Education Board has not yet been approached by any of the schools under its jurisdiction, with requests to observe standard time, as some schools, chiefly in the country, did last year. Presumably there will on this occasion be more general conformity with the daylight saving measure, so far as schools are concerned. Wireless enthusiasts should remember that from to-morrow morning Now Zealand time will be two hours, instead of one and a-half, ahead of Australian time. Calendars setting out the hours of the sun, moon and tides, standard time, should be altered to read half-an-hour ahead until March 17 next.