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1.—15.

J. READ.

You think that your Council represents about two thousand workers ? —At least that number. Mr. Qirling.] 1 understood you to say at your meeting last night that three of your delegates who were enthusiastically in favour of the Bill were recent arrivals from England ? —They have not been out here long. Did they express the feelings of the country people in the Old Country or the townspeople ? — They spoke for themselves. You think it would be feasible, in the event of the country being opposed to the Bill, for Municipal Corporations to bring the Bill into force within their own areas and so get the benefit of the clock being put on ?—Of course, that may be worth considering if it wore not possible to put the whole Bill through. Ido not think it would be as serious in the case of the dairy-farmers as what it has been made out to be from time to time. However, I should, like to sec the Bill given a trial for at least twelve months, and then if anybody is going to be seriously affected i do not think any one could object to the original practice being adopted if, as I say, it is found to be unworkable. We cannot foresee what these things arc going to bring about, but it seems to me to be reasonable to give it a trial for, say, twelve months. Have you considered the question of the dairy-farmers from the town-supply point of view— that is to say, where it is necessary for them morning and evening to catch trains with their milk ?— In the case of Wellington it is not dependent on railway services to get its supply of milk, because; the milk is, or the great bulk of it, brought in by motor-lorry from Makara and the surrounding district. Would it not necessitate the dairy-farmers milking an hour earlier in order to get the milk into town at the same hour as now ?—I very much doubt that, because Ido not think it would make very much difference to the town supply so far as Wellington was concerned. At the meeting last night you say that you were all unanimous regarding the measure, and you did not obtain an expression of opinion from the delegate who was against it ?— As a matter of fact, he left early, because the discussion and the expression of opinion of the three delegates who had lived in England when, the daylight-saving was in operation were so strong against him. You have no idea what his reasons were for opposing the Bill ? —1 could not understand it. There were certainly no reasons that he adduced. He assumed that the time would go on for the workmen, but that it would not go on so far as the tramway service was concerned. You think it would, bo of benefit to the community to have daylight-saving I—Yes,1 —Yes, I think it would be an advantage. I may say that I am. a man who likes to have a little vigorous exorcise from time to time in order to keep myself fit. I live some distance from the town, and lam able to have a garden. 1 think this Bill would be beneficial to the community if it wore brought into operation by reason of the fact that a man would be able to have a little more time to devote to his garden or any other form of recreation. The advantage would be in the direction of keeping the people healthy by having the extra hour at their disposal. Would the people not do that in the mornings during the summer-time now ? —They do not get up now. You think it would, be better for a man to attend to. say, his garden in the afternoon and not in the morning ? —I believe that a man. would be in a better mental and physical state to undertake his day's work if his form of recreation were taken in the afternoon and not in the morning. Mr. Sullivan.] Are any of the agricultural unions affiliated to your Council ?—No ; only the dairy workers of the Corporation, and you could hardly call that an agricultural union. They merely handle the milk in the station and deliver it. What is their point of view in regard to the matter ?—Mr. Atkinson is their representative, and he is strongly in favour of it. What does he represent ? —The general dairy workers. The Chairman.] How do you think it would affect the home life —that is, the wives getting up an hour earlier eaoh day ? —I cannot see how it will affect them at all. You think that the tendency will be for bettor health ? —I cannot see how it will affect them. I know that Mr. Atkinson's wife is strongly in favour of it. They just have as much sleep as they do under ordinary circumstances, with the exception of the first night when the clock is put on an hour. Of course, they make that up at the end of the summer when the clock is put back. Do you think that the tendency will be for the men working in the towns, if they finish their work an hour earlier, to go home, or do you think they will remain in town for the extra hour ? —That is rather a difficult question to answer, sir, because that all depends on the man himself. I believe that in the case of those men who have the tendency to look after their homes at the present time they would be inclined to get home in order to attend to their homes, or they may desire to take their wives and families out at times, and I believe that section of the community would get the real advantage of the extra hour. Ido not think that it would benefit the man who does not go home now, and I doubt if lie would have more opportunity than he has now to drink, but no matter what was done he would not get the benefit. Mr. Walteb Bkomley examined. (No. G.) The Chairman.} What are you '{— 1 am secretary of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council, and also general secretary of the Engineers' Union throughout New Zealand. I may say that I spent four years at Home when the Bill was in operation there. .1 was living in the outskirts of Manchester, and was classed as an industrial worker. I spent some time with an uncle of mine in Manchester, who was a big milk-dealer and employed several men. He had to get his milk from the counties of Cheshire and Derbyshire, and I spent some time at Irlam, where I came in contact with farmers. I did not hear, ever since the Bill was put into operation in the Old Country, any one say a word against