LOCAL SUMMER TIME.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20500, 30 August 1928, Page 9

LOCAL SUMMER TIME.

SECOND READING OF BILL,

GENERAL SUPPORT FROM HOUSE

SELECT COMMITTEE TO REPORT,

(Special to Daily Times.)

WELLINGTON, August 29.

Whether Mr T. K. Sidey’s Local Summer Time Bill will become law, depends largely on the report of a select committee of the House of Representatives to which the Bill was referred tonight, after it had been read a second time. The decision to refer the measure to the committee was made as a result of consultations during the day between Mr Sidey and the Prime Minister. Special attention is to be given by the committee to, the likely effect of the operation of local summer time on the railway and post and telegraph services. A point that is advanced is that the suburban train time tables cannot be altered to meet the changed conditions without affecting the main line services. The public galleries of the House were crowded, and many people were unable to gain admittance. This is evidence of the keen interest in the Bill which is being shown in Wellington. Mr Sidey, in moving the second reading of the Bill, said that the defeat of the Summer Time Bill earlier in the session had produced a feeling of disappointment, especially in the larger centres, and had given rise to a determination that a way must be found whereby the benefits of summer dme cou!4 be enjoyed by those who desired them this summer. With others he had come to the conclusion that the only effective means of meeting with this wish was the proposals contained in the present Bill. Mr Sidey emphasised tnat the passing of the Bill did not mean the adoption of summer time. That was left to the local authorities. “ After consultation with the Prime Minister, I have decided to agree to this Bill going before a special select committee for consideration of objections which may be raised,” Mr Sidey continued. ‘‘ The Prime Minister has met me very fairly, in the matter of the personnel of the committee, and I am going to place myself unreservedly in hi s hands to see that when the committee’s report is ready, the' House will have a further opportunity of considering it. ’ Mr P. ’ Fraser (Wellington Central): Have you had his promise? Mr Sidey: lam quite satisfied to leave myself in the Prime Minister’s hands. One of the special reasons for sending the Bill to the committee is t so that the Railways Department and th© Post and Telegraph Department might have an opportunitw of putting forth their views. Mr Sidey said he did not anticipate that these views would be against the Bill, or that difficulties that could not be overcome would arise. He then moved the second reading of the Bill. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) said there could not be any real objection to the Bill, which had been robbed of its objectionable features. He asked the Prime Minister to see that the Bill reached at least the committee stage. Mr W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne), who was a strong opponent of the previous Bills, now gave Mr Sidey his congratulations. He suggested, however, that county councils should not be given the opportunity of deciding whether summer time should be adopted. A member: Do you not trust the counties?

• Mr Lysnar: You never know what a county council will do these days. Two or three sportsmen might get round them, and that would be the end of it. Mr Lysnar had no objection to town boards being given the rights proposed in the Bill, but the counties were in a different position. He considered also that the Bill should be passed for one year only. The Hon. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) intimated that he would not oppose the Bill, but he thought it should be for one year only. There was a fear that it might lead to dislocation of business as between city and country. “Why beat the air now?” asked Mr W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei) in drawing attention to the fact that the Bill was going to a committee, and that there would be a further opportunity of discussing it. We country members do not intend to take up a dog in the manger attitude. Later we will have something to say in respect to those parts of the Bill which appear to affect the people of the country.” “ Fancy Mr Lysnar daring to suggest that county councils—the direct representative of the people—should not have a say on this scheme,” said Mr Fraser (Wellington Central). “He appears to think that every person in the country is opposed to the Bill. I suggest he should be a sport and risk the difficulties which he imagines exist. Mr Lysnar: You are only promoting discord. Mr Fraser: I have more faith in the people. Surely it is not too much to ask the Prime Minister to allow' the Bill to reach the committee stage. Mr A. Harris (Waitemata) suggested that Mr Sidey should make provision in the Bill to make it optional for ridings situated in counties to adopt the proposal. That would meet the case of ridings which were more urban than rural.

“ The large majority of the people are in favour of daylight saving,” said Mr H. Atmore (Nelson). “That is all they are thinking about at present. Why, even the Licensing Bill fades into insignificance when compared with this measure.”

The support of Mr A. M. Samuel (Ohinemuri) was given with the qualification that he could not conscientiously oppose it at the present juncture. He was sure that if the Bill came back from the committee it would go on the Statute Book, and the onus of adopting the idea would be on the members of the local bodies. They would be responsible to their electors.

Mr Fraser: Will your conscience be clear of the responsibility if it is shifted to the local bodies.

Mr Samuel: I can conceive cf no greater obstacle to the Bill than sarcastic lectnrettcs. Such lecturcttes are enough to convert a supporter into anopponent. I will support the second reading, but I will not commit myself definitely on the Bill until I see what shape it is in when it comes back from the committee.

Mr H. L. Tapley (Dunedin North) said that, like King Bruce, Mr Sidey had not become discouraged. It was only a matter of time when New Zealand would “ drift into ” daylight saving.

Mr G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) said he had opposed the principle of daylightsaving for many years, but now at last Mr Sidey had introduced a measure which he felt he could support. If the Bill was passed New Zealand would once again be a happy and contented country. -—(Laughter.) Mr Lysnar: Are the country members going to be consistent? Mr Forbes: They may not be anything else, but they are consistent.— (Laughter.)

Replying to the debate, Mr Sidey said he did not think it would, be pos-

sible to accede to the suggestion that ridings should be given authority to adopt summertime, the chief difficulty being in connection with defining the boundaries, which in the case of ridings were indistinct. He saw no reason for excluding county councils. The second reading was carried on the voices.

Mr Sidey then moved that the Bill be referred to the following Select Committee :—Mr W. S. Glenn, Mr J. R. Hamilton, Mr R. P. Hudson, Mr E. P. Lee, Mr W. D. Lysnar, Mr J. M'Combs, Mr D. G. Sullivan, Mr W. A. Vcitch, Sir Maui Pomare, and the mover. The committee will have power to call for persons and papers, and to report to the House within seven days. The Prime Minister suggested that seven days might not be long enough for the committee to complete the taking of evidence. The Railway Department and the Post and Telegraph Department intended to give evidence, which, however, would be in concise form. Mr Coates suggested that the committee be allowed 10 days. If that proved insufficient no doubt the House would agree to extend the time. Mr Sidey said he would agree to the period being fixed at ten days. The motion as amended was carried.