"DAYLIGHT SAVING"

Southland Times, Issue 17482, 24 July 1915, Page 5

"DAYLIGHT SAVING"

MR SIDEY’S BILL. STONEWALL IN THE HOUSE. (Special to the Times). WELLINGTON, July 22. The Daylight Saving Bill, or, as Mr Sidey has renamed it, “The Definition of Time Bill.” afforded the House an opportunity this afternoon and evening for an unrestrained frolic, and to the credit of the members, be it said, the fun was of a higher standard and was better sustained than on any other of the many occasions on which this Bill, or some variation of it, has been before the House. Of course, the member for Dunedin South is in earnest about his scheme: nor must it be supposed that members of the House think that the Bill is a joke. The joke to-day was that everybody knew the Bill could not possibly pass. Homo members of the House are committed to support the Bill—a promise given light-heartedly in an election campaign—and some members really, appear to believe that the scheme is a good one; but practically all the country members who have a close acquaintance with country pursuits oppose the Bill because they believe it will do positive harm. Generally speaking the opponents of the Bill, after setting forth their reasons for their objection, set themselves to occupy so much time as to compel the withdrawal or to compass the killing of the Bill. A serious appeal was made to Mr Sidey by several members that he ought not to ask the House to pass such a frivolous Bill in these times of stress, but Mr Sidey answered these gentlemen by saj'ing that in war or peace these members opposed the Bill.

Just before 11.30 the first motion to report progress was defeated by 3S to 26 and the discussion was then continued by the opponents of the Bill, and it was evident that the discussion would be a protracted one. The stonewall was still proceeding at one o’clock.