_The Evening Post_, 14 October 1924:
        COURTSHIP BY DAYLIGHT
                        SAVING
  That the passage of Mr. T. K. Sidey’s Summer Time Bill would have an adverse effect on the course of true love and #courtship was advanced by Mr. J. A. #Lee (Auckland East)… as a reason why the House should throw out the Bill.
  “It is suggested that the ‘sports’ are behind this Bill, … but I want to suggest that the ‘spoil sports’ are behind it. A little darkness is necessary in this community, as well as in any other community. There is a very old institution called courtship. Surely the ‘sports’ are not going to deny the young man and young women a little darkness. Surely they are going to allow them to wander out in the parks and along country lanes at night time without being under the eye of every person…(laughter). Why, you will see our young men and young women…twiddling their thumbs, consequently the Registrar of Marriages will do poor business. We will have to import a large number of people into this country if we do not encourage the institution of courtship by affording suitable conditions and making it possible to rear a healthful population in this Dominion.” (Renewed laughter.)
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19241014.2.73.3
#OnThisDay #OTD #PapersPast #DaylightSaving #SummerHours #Legislation #Parliament #Dating #NewZealand