THE HANDS OF TIME

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10962, 26 July 1921, Page 5

THE HANDS OF TIME

A CHANGE PROPOSED TO TWELVE HOURS AHEAD OF GREENWICH. WELLINGTON SUPPORT. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce yesterday received a letter from the A.uckiand Chamber of Commerce inviting support for the following resolution with regard to the alteration of New* Zealand tame: —“That Neiw Zealand standard time be changed to twelve hours ahead of Greenwich time." The letter set out the following as the practical benefits of the -proposed alterations: —(a) Reduction in capacity of plant installed in the various electric power-houses, with consequent saving in capital expenditure, (b) All ordinary working time would be within the hours of daylight at all times of the year, (c) Simplification of commercial dealing by cable with England. The Auckland chamber bad resolved to urge the Government to give effect to the proposal. A MUNICIPAL VIEWPOINT. The secretary of the* A uckl and .body added that this had already been recommended by the Efficiency Board and that the Auckland city electrical engineer had .stated that thte chief reason for supporting the change from the .point of view of the-City Council would be a saving in capital expenditure in the efleefirio power-stations. Between 4.30 and 5 p.m. on winter afternoons the light load overlapped the power ■ load and plant had to be provided to meet this peak which lasted only a few weeks of the year. The proposed 'alteration would do away with tire overlapping and so reduce the amount of plant necessary to meet the winter load. From the point of view of the public the change would reduce the lighting 'bills all the year round. A WIDE EFFECT. Mr M. A. Oarr (president of the Wellington chamber) said it seemed to him there were in the proposal some points which were worthy of consideration: so far as the cities were concerned. On the other hand they would have to think of Whether there would or would not 'be a national effect before they oould advise <an alteration in the present position. The question was how far it would have an effect on the produo-: era in the country. If it was going to make dairy farmers and such men as those who looked after horses get up earlier it was more far-reaching than a mere matter of the* consumption ol electric light in the cities. ‘ Instead of getting np at 4 o’clock an the morning, you would be getting up at twenty past three, or something like that.” Mr S. A. Longult: That would be all right as long as you did not know it. . . . My contention is that it would not matter whether I got up at 7 or at 8 so long as I did not know. The president: Ye®; but you start business at 9 o’clock.

Several members thought.' people in the towns would be glad to get things over in daylight. On the motion of Mr T. A. Muni, it was resolved to support the Auckland proposal.