By ANNE-MARIE EMERSON
IT'S THAT weekend again time to put your clocks forward for daylight saving.
And if it seems earlier than usual, you'd be right. Daylight saving has been extended by three weeks this summer. Clocks are put forward one week earlier, this weekend, and are put back two
weeks later, in early April.
Wanganui man Lee Taylor is one person pleased to see daylight saving extended.
In 1971, a youthful Mr Taylor organised a petition to have daylight saving introduced to New Zealand.
Mr Taylor was employed by the Ministry of Works at the time, and one day the subject of daylight saving or "daylight using", as it was referred to then was brought up at work.
"The office overlooked Victoria Ave, and it was a beautiful day. Someone said wouldn't it be nice if we had daylight saving, then we could go to the beach after work."
"Someone else said we should petition parliament for daylight saving, and suddenly I found myself organising a petition."
Mr Taylor can't remember how many signatures he collected, but "it was in the thousands".
He said there was a lot of opposition to the idea, mostly because of misunderstanding about what daylight saving was.
"I remember one lady complaining her tomatoes wouldn't grow if daylight saving was brought in!"
Mr Taylor was later summoned to speak before a select committee about daylight saving.
"I obviously convinced them it was a good idea, because they gave a favourable report and it was passed by parliament."
The Time Act making daylight saving a permanent fixture was passed in 1974.
As well as altering clocks, the change to daylight saving is an opportune time for people to check their household emergency plans, survival kits and home smoke alarms.
Clocks are to be put forward at 2am this Sunday which will then become 3am although most people put them forward before they go to bed the previous night.
