TEMUKA FARMERS TALK ABOUT VALUE OF DAYLIGHT SAVING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18419, 22 March 1928, Page 10

TEMUKA FARMERS TALK ABOUT VALUE OF DAYLIGHT SAVING.

“ NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.” There was an interesting discussion on Daylight Saving at the executive meeting of the Temuka branch of the Farmers’ Union, presided over by Mr A. J. Davev, yesterday. Referring to the question, the chairman stated that it had been given a fair trial this year, and the measure would come before the House again next session. The Farmers’ Union had a petition, and they were asking for the signatures of those who were opposed to the measure. Daylight saving was a movement simply in the interests of sport, but it was a most unsportsmanlike measure, as it penalised the primary producers, and m increased the cost of living. It had* increased the work of womenfolk by one hour, and it was a cruel thing for the children, who did not get sufficient rest. He was confident that it was not in the best interests of the country* . , Mr Lyon said that in harvest time they lost an hour in the morning waiting for the dew to go off the crop. Mr Dobson said that it was difficult to understand the arguments. He would like the chairman to say how he lost an hour per day. The chairman stated that they started work when the dew was off, not by the Sidey time, but they could not knock off an hour later at night out of consideration for the womenfolk. Mr Talbot pointed out that there was not much difference one way or another. As far as the harvest was concerned they started at the old time and went on until 9 p.m. Mr Dobson said that the arrangements were in their own hands; they could start as soon as thSy could and work as long as they could. Mr Macfarlane stated that he knew qriite a number of people who had been in favour of daylight saving and who had changed their opinion. Personal!}', he thought that it was the most retrograde measure that had been put on the Statute Book. The chairman said it was surprising the number of country and city people who had changed their opinion about the Bill, and personally he felt like the man down south who had referred to the date on which _ the clocks were put back to their usual hour as the “ glorious Fourth.” From the farmers’ point of view it was a most backward step. The chairman said that no motion could be taken; what he wanted was for those who opposed the measure to sign the petition. There was no doubt that a petition would be circulated in favour of the proposal.