SUMMER TIME DOUSED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 416, 26 July 1928, Page 12

SUMMER TIME DOUSED

Lively Debate in House

FARMER MEMBERS MARSHAL FORCES

(TEZ S L’A'« Pzr'.iarr.e*\zary Reporter.) "W ELLINGTON. To-day. THE galieries of the House of Representatives, crowded I to overflowing, signified the deep public interest in the summer Time controversy when it was reopened last evening centring round Mr. Sidey’s endeavour to have the measure made a permanent institution. The chamber itself showed a keen interest, there being practically a full attendance. Every speech was followed with the closest attention. Speakers often were subjected to a great deal of interruption, leading Mr. Speaker to call repeatedly for order. Often both speakers and interjeetors were in a humorous mood, and the results were intervals of uproarious levity, which wore oft however as the opposing sides settled down to make the occasion a stern test of their forces.

Discussing the opposition to summer time, Mr. Sidey attributed most of it to bigotry, an instance of which was that some people opposing summer time actually referred to standard time as ‘'God’s time.” Mr. W. D. Lysnai; (Gisborne), who followed, was subjected to persistent interjection. Amid cries of incredulity from all sides, he said that many farmers were waiting to see what the House did about summer time, before deciding, if the measure were reenacted, to walk off their farms. Mr. J. A. Nash: Surely you're not sincere. Mr. Lysnar: lam sincere. He went on to say that the number of vegetable gardens throughout the country must have been greatly reduced by last summer's trial of summer time. This statement was greeted with further disbelief. Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, said that even if he were strongly opposed to summer time in all its phases, he would still feel much regret that any member should utter such trivialities and absurdities as had been uttered by Mr. Lysnar. Mr. Holland added his belief that sum- 1 mer time should be given a further trial, also that the Bill should go to a committee, so that the extent of the opposition to it could be accurately gauged and adjustments made. Before final adoption, summer time should be submitted to a national referendum. “Not one of the fears previously entertained have been realised,” said Mr. A. Harris ( Waitemata), who supported the bill. Those opposed to it. he said, were talking mere platitudes. Mr. A. M. Samuel (Otpnemuri) dealt principally in the hardships of summer time as applying to women. He described letters from women on the subject as heartrending. Mr. Sidey’s enthusiasm for summer time had become an obsession, clouding his vision. “I have quite a lot of arguments against summer time,” concluded Mr. Samuel. Voices: Why didn’t you trot them out before?

The tide of argument ebbed and flowed as the debate progressed, with a general trend shtowing that the opposition was well organised. Mr. J. R. Hamilton (Awarua) and Mr. W. J. Girling proclaimed opposition to the Bill, and Mr. R. McKeen and Sir John Luke strongly supported. “From the national point of view, from the primary producers’ point of view, and from the married man's point of view, I oppose the Bill,” said Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton), stating amid general amusement that his domestic affairs had never been

Otahuhu v. Remuera, No. 1, 3.15 p.m.; Alount Roskill v. Cornwall Park. No. 2. 4 p.m.; Epsom v. Royal Oak, No. 1, 4 p.m. Intermediate grade: Remuera v. Royal Oak, No. 3, 4 p.m.; Ellerslie v. Kohimarama, No. 1, 2.30 p.m.; Epsom v. Normal, bv arrangement; Meadowbank v. Mount Roskill, No. 4, 4 p.m. Junior j grade: Cornwall Park v. Otafhuhu, No. 4. 3.15 p.m.: Meadowbank v. Ellerslie, I No. 3. 3.1-5 p.m.: Mount Roskill v. Normal. Training College, 3 p.m.; Royal Oak, a bye. i Eden Park Group.—Senior grade: A and ; B match. Eden Park No. 2, 3.30 p.m. | Schools should warn their nominated | players to be there on time. Interme- : riiate grade: Kowhai A v. B, as arranged; ! Kowhai C v. Mount Eden, Eden Park j No. 3. 3.40 p.m.: Brixton Road v. Eden- ; dale, Potter's Park. 3.40. Junior grade: \ Mount Albert v. Edendale, Eden Park i No. 3, 3 p.m.; Mount Eden v. Brixton ! Road, Potter's Park, 3 p.m.; Alaungawhau a bye. Domain Group.—lntermediate grade: Parnell A v. Wellesley Street. Junior ■ grade: Newmarket v. Newton West. No j matches will be played this week. ' jU,d,2S,;

interrupted as much as under summer time. Mr. E. P. Lee (Oamaru) pointed out that those who voted against the second reading would be closing the door against committee negotiations, and ignoring the wishes of a very large body of people who undoubtedly wanted some measure of this kind. “Too risky—we couldn’t get a compromise last year,” said Mr. Samuel when Mr. Lee suggested a spirit of compromise. “No. it’s all or nothing with you,” replied Mr. Lee, claiming that was the wrong spirit in which to view the proposal. Mr. W. S. Glenn fßangitikei). who is the unofficial leader of the summer time opposition, warned his followers against accepting a compromise. The celebrations, he predicted, would this year be on his side. Mr. F. Waite (Clutha) confessed himself a convert from pro-summer time to anti-summer time. Mr. Lee Martin (Raglan), the only member elected since summer time was passed last session, revealed himself as one of the few Labour men opposed to summer time. Mr. D. Jones (Ellesmere) claimed that even the cities were divided on summer time. A compromise was impossible. “I don’t suppose what I've said will make an iota of difference,” said Mr. J. Horn (Wakatipu), after pleading for support for the Bill. “Not a bit!” Mr. Glenn assured him cheerily. Mr. H. Holland (Christchurch North) said he could not allow Mr. Jones's statement to pass unchallenged. The cities were practically unanimous in favour of summer time. At midnight Mr. Sidey rose to reply to criticism, much of which he said had been based on unfair comparisons. He was quite prepared to concede a compromise in committee, including a further year’s trial. The division on the motion for the second reading of the Bill was as follows: —

FOR THE BILL—2B Armstrong McKean Bartram Mason, H. G. R. Bellringer Mason, J. Buddo Nash Dickson, J.S. Parry Forsyth Rolleston, F. J. Fraser Savage Harris Seddon Holland, H. Sidey Holland, H. E. Smith Howard Sullivan Lee. E. P. Veitch Luke Wright McCombs Young AGAINST THE BILL—33 Bell Kyle » Burnett Linklater Campbell Lysnar Coates McLeod Dickie Macmillan Dickson, J. McC. Martin Eliott Ransom Field Reid Girling Rhodes Glenn Rolleston, J. C. Hamilton, A. Samuel Hamilton, J. R. Sykes Hawken Uru Hockly Waite Hunter W alter Jones, D. Williams Jones, W.

Pairs.—For the Bill: Horn. Ngata, Stewart. Tapley. Wilford. Against thfBill: Bitchener, Pomare, McLennan, Hudson, Forbes. The extent of the swing-over since lasst session is indicated by the fact that the second reading then was carried by 33 votas to 21. A majority of 12 has thus been converted into a minority. Some of those wTio have changed are: Messrs. Allen Bell (Bay of Islands), H. S. Dickie (Patea), W. J. Girling (Wairau), H. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton), E. A. Ransom (Pahiatua), P. Waite (Clutha), and E. Walter (Stratford).