SUMMER TIME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 14

SUMMER TIME.

Sir, —Tho so-called Daylight Saving Act is evidently to bo passed without the backbone of this country being considered at all. Not daylight saving, but daylight wasting is its true name. It is adverse to profitable farming as the farmer is forced to rise earlier than before—when ho was no sluggard—and in time becomes too tired to perform his work efficiently. It does not allow him time to cool his morning's cream properly. Naturally tho quality is lowered, and this causes loss not only to himself but to tho country generally. Sidey time is not wanted by the working farmers of this country, as (heir day of toil is already far too long, and they and their families are at work in the mornings when the upholders of daylight saving are still snug in bed. Daylight saving to its exponents really means extra time for afternoon play. Tho plea that an extra hour of daylight is beneficial to health is no doubt very well to those who do not already rise at 4 a.m., and can apply equally to the morning as to the afternoon. What can he more bracing than exercise in the early morning air ? But I think it will be found that real early rising does not at all appeal to the "daylight savers." A Farmer's Voice.

Sir, —" Progress " says he has just returned from Great Britain and refers to daylight saving there. I fail to see how any comparison can be made. The majority of people there are not on the land and these are the ones who have most reason to object to daylight saving. They are lucky people who can be out in the parks by the thousand -when their day's work is over. We were no nearer getting to the parks when daylight saving was in force than at any other time. Farmers work as long as there is daylight and putting the clock ahead means that they work longer hours, as they start in the mornings by the clock. By farmers I mean the majority of farmers, not those with motor-cars, men servants and machines. The only way that daylight saving affected us was that we gave up going out at nights, as we were too late finishing up our work. Once we went to a night wedding held at 8 p.m. We had the cows finished and were on our way out while the sun was yet high in the heavans. " Health " prates about that extra half-hour of sunshine. We do not seem able to convince him that legislation is not going to increase or decrease the amount of sunshine by one ray. He evidently lies in bed that extra half-hour and wants a law passed before he will get up and make use of the daylight. Worker.