DAYLIGHT SAVING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 75

DAYLIGHT SAVING.

WELLINGTON, April 30. A request for legislation to give effect to a measure of daylight baaing propo&eii by the Zealand rederatcu Uperatne leakers’ Association was made to the Minister of Laoour (the Hon. o. J. Anderson) to-day by a deputation representing tnat body ot workers. The deputation was introduced by Mr P. Fraser, Ai.P., who stressed the importance ot the question, and pointed out that it was engaging international discussion. Air U. J. Veale. secretary of the Federation, outlined the history of the movement to secure daylight baking, attributing failure to secuie that end to jealousy among master bakers themselves. Replying to the Minister, the speaker said daylight baking would mean commencing at t>.£o or b a.m. So far as he knew there was rio definite public opposition to the proposal Continuing, the speaker argued tbit with the advance of science a baker should be able to produce bread that would be sweet, moist, and wholesome for 48 hours after it had been made. If men started at 4 a.m* bread could still be produced for delivery after 9 a.m. The Minister referred to the fact that bakers were paying their employees double time for night baking, and asked the reason for it. Mr Veale: It is only jealousy and competition between themselves. We cannot see that it is for the purpose of helping cr pleasing the public. Mr Andrew Collins, secretary of the local union, said he could not see what objec-; tion the master bakers could raise against' daylight baking. Starting at 5.30 a.m,.j they could have bread baked and in the! carts by 9 a.m. A baker’s objection at ) present was that he did not know when , his day’s work was done, or at what time he would be called back again. He hoped , the Government would, by legislation, give a 12 months’ trial to the system of baking,, whereby work would be commenced at 5.30 a.m. He was willing to put £SOO of his « own money into such a scheme. He contended that daylight baking would do < away with the present evils of competi* j tion. Mr Brooks instanced an Auckland case / in which a certain bakehouse worked the; same men a straight shift of 25 hours. The Minister: “Would you object tot continuous work on three senarate shifts? ! ! Mr Veale: -“We object to night work, claiming that it is not necessary.” “Supposing this proposal were made law, at what time would bread be delivered.' asked Mr Anderson. .. . . . Mr Veale said that delivery could start at 7.30 or 8 in the morning. He explained that the dough would be prepared bv the doughman prior to 4 a.m. and would be ready for the baker to start work at that hour. . . a Another member of the deputation briefly reviewed the daylight, hours worked in Australia where the hours differed in various States. . . Replying to a further question Mr veale said they had not di="”?sed their proposal with the master bakers. Mr Anderson promised to consider tno matter, remarking that it struck him as more reasonable than anything that hau been put up previously. “1 think, he said, “this is a matter upon which, it you could come to some arrangement with the master bakers there would be very little difficulty in getting through the House.” When the question was under discussion before a committee of the House he recalled that the burden of the employers’ complaint was that, the public demanded fresh bread. The operatives had argued that it was not in the interests of the. health of the people to eat fresh bread. That was countered bv a state- . ment on behalf of the public that it. was quite competent to sav what -it should eat.. He could not say whether the Government; would introduce a Bill along the linos request**! although there should ho legislation in regard to shops. ete.. this Tear. However, he would let Mr Fraser know the result of the ronsideratmn he gave the' proposal they had presented. Mr Fraser remarked in ronchismn that davlisht hnkintr w»* in fore* in Holland. Sweden. Finland. Germany. Russia, Czechoslovakia, and other countries.