THE Waikato Independent. TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1911. DAYLIGHT SAVING BILL.

Waikato Independent, Volume XII, Issue 1052, 22 August 1911, Page 4

THE Waikato Independent. TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1911. DAYLIGHT SAVING BILL.

MR SIDEY’S Daylight Saving Bill has just passed its second reading in the House of Representatives. Measures similar to this have been brought before various Parliaments throughout the world for several years past, but so far, although it is admitted that the innovation would have a great deal to recommend it, the matter has not gone beyond the realms of discussion. Speaking in the house last Wednesday, Mr Sidey, the author of the Bill, said

his'propoaal was that at two o'clock on tlis morning of the last Sunday in September all the docks in the. country would be put forward to 3 o’clock, and at 3 a.m. on the last Sunday in March the time would be put b\ck again. That, he pointed out, would give an additional hour of sunlight for recreation purposes. The proposal was growing in popular favor, and in the Old Country was supported by a large number of leading men and public bodies. The same thing was going on in Australia, and similar Bills were before almost all the Australian States, especially in Victoria. In New Zealand there was a very large body of public opinion in favor of the proposal, and a petition would be presented to Parliament containing three or four thousand signatures—one of the most representative petitions dVer presented to the House. Two years ago a committee of the House reported in favour generally of the proposal for daylight saving, and there was, he declared, almost universal unanimity as to the desirability of the object aimed at. The only difference was as to how thbse objects could be attained. It was urged that they could be attained by people altering their habits, but he contended that the beat way was by altering the clock, which every where regulates the habits of the people. One of the obstacles to the Bill, he believed, was the feeling among some people that they would lose an hour’s sleep, but if the clock was altered the change to the better conditions would be brought about without anyone being asvare that anything unusual had happened. The ex-Secretary for Labor,• Mr H. Tregear, had given evidence, that the proposed ateration would not extend the hours of work or of overtime, both of, which were regulated by the law of supply and demand, and would not be affected by any alteration of the clock. He also urged that there would be a saving to the public in respect of the consumption of artificial light--prob-ably over £60,000 a year, and perhaps as'much as £IOO,OOO. That might not please the gas or other lighting companies, but they could no't hope to' please everybody. There might be some trouble in regard to the dissemination of ne«'s, but the newspapers generally were not opposed to the scheme, and many of them were heartily in. favor of it.

THE New Zealand Protection Committee is offering a salary of £SOO and actual travelling expenses for a secretary. This body has been formed with a view to combating the undue interference which is undermining the foundation of almost every manly sport in New Zealand, and the fact that at its head are men such as Mr H. D. Bell, K.C , and Mr C. P. Skerrett, K.C.. of Wellington—men qf the highest reputation and legal attainments—is sufficient evidence of the necessity that exists for the protection of sport generally. From time immemorial the English-speaking race has been noted for its love of athletics in every shape and form, and it is to the spirit of sport and adventure which seems inherent in the Britisher that the Empire in reality owes its existence. Both France and Germany have come to recognise the value of sport in dpveloping their people, and the rising generation in each country now takes an active part in football, boxing, racing, tennis, etc. At the recent military examinations in France a very much larger percentage passed their medical test solely owing, it is said; to to the fondness for athletics which the modern young Frenchman is developing. That there should be a necessity for the formation of such a body as the Sports Protection League in New Zealand is a reproach to the old English spirit. But it is a fact that what is vulgarly termed “Wowserism” is casting a blight upon sport throughout New Zealand, and is seeking to “crib, cabin and confine” every pastime in which our forefathers delighted. Should this cult of “wowserism” obtain the upper hand we shall have a race of namby-pamby effeminate weaklings in this young country, instead of a strong, virile and manly population, and it is for this reason we wish the newly-formed Society every success.

reply was given by the Government that the matter was under conside ration.

THE wine growers of the North Auck- ( land district resent the statements recently made by a deputation from the New Zealand Alliance to the effect that the wine-selling business had got entirely out of hand, and was nowi one nf the most pernicious things in connection with the sale of liquor in New Zealand, and that the wine was doctored. . They have decided to form a Wine-growers’ Association and to draft a bill for presentation to the House, embodying necessary facilities for the betterment of the wine-grow-ing industry. They have; also decided to write asking the Government, for the sake of justice to the growers, to send a Government analyst to analyse all the wine in the cellars in the Northern district, and report to the public on Ihe quality of the wine.