17 Oct 2012

Samoa's opposition continues fight against daylight savings

2:52 pm on 17 October 2012

Samoa's opposition party is considering a petition to gauge public support for daylight savings.

Daylight savings was introduced to Samoa three years ago, and clocks went forward last month.

The government says daylight savings reduces power usage and provides another hour of daylight for farmers and businesses.

But the leader of the opposition, Palusalue Fa'apo II, says there's no benefit to daylight savings, and it's inconvenient.

"We are thinking of asking the public for their signatures, to see who supports the daylight savings and who [doesn't]. Because the government never did any proper research or survey, whether the country needs and also whether then country approves this daylight savings."

Palusalue Fa'apo II says Samoa changed its position on the dateline to be on the same day as New Zealand and Australia, but daylight savings means the time is different.