TO absolutely mangle a phrase uttered nigh on 70 years ago by a master of the English language, never in the field of public participation in the decision making process has so much rubbish been written by so many as has been written about the simple issue of moving the little hand on clocks and watches forward by one digit.

Just to put my own cards on the table, I have always been in favour of shifting to Central European Time for the simple reason that an extra hour of daylight is more use to me on a summer evening, when I can make some use of it, than it is at five o’clock in the morning, when it’s about as much use as a chocolate fireguard.
That said, I fully realise that there are others who don’t share that view, perhaps because it happens to be either inconvenient to them or that they have a fundamental objection to the idea.

What I can’t come to terms with are some of the arguments – many of which smack of panic, as if the end of the world was approaching – being used to persuade people not to vote in favour of a change.
Apparently, according to a survey carried out by something called Jersey Finance, the majority of finance industry employees are against moving to Central European Time because the industry is facing enough turmoil as it is and doesn’t need the extra aggravation.

As someone who is slowly coming round to the view that my old granny was right when she cautioned against putting money in banks – but has hitherto resisted the temptation to either put it in a biscuit tin under the bed or pop round to Honest Nev’s and stick it on some nag running in Saturday’s 2.30 at Haydock Park – it really is a comfort to know that finance industry staff think the present ‘turmoil’ is going to be a permanent feature of our lives.

Well, sorry, but if it’s not going to be a permanent feature then why introduce it in what is supposed to be a sensible debate about what will be a permanent feature? See what I mean about some of the arguments being used?

Then we had someone the other day writing in telling us not to expect better weather so that we can enjoy ourselves outside in the winter. For the life of me, I can’t recall anyone even remotely suggesting that the act of aligning ourselves in a time zone occupied by our closest neighbours – just 14 or so miles away – is somehow going to mean that it will be beach weather in December and January and Christmas Day will be celebrated with a barbecue along the Pine Walk at St Catherine.

But the argument was used nonetheless, just as the same correspondent told us of the effect on the ‘older generation’ with no video recorder of never being able to watch or listen to television and radio programmes ‘at the time they are broadcast from the UK’ (actually, the broadcasts will be just as ‘live’ as they are now).

I am in the age category to which this correspondent refers, and all I can say about that comment is what a load of patronising twaddle. If what happens at Chez Clement is anything to go by, there is one age group who would probably be affected far less than any other by such a change, and it is the ‘older generation’.
As I keep on telling Herself when she suggests that there is an urgent need to do something or other, there’s all day tomorrow yet not touched. And besides, what difference does it make to us whether we stay up late watching the idiot box and then have a lie-in the following morning? It’s not as if we’re panicking to get brats up and ready for school or are anxious to beat the traffic and get to work on time.

As an aside, I was interested to read that young Christopher Lakeman is busy campaigning against any form of change. What with that and running the Luvvies’ Local – otherwise known as the Opera House – I’m surprised he’s got the time. Perhaps he should do something useful and stand for Deputy. He’d make a good States Member.

It really doesn’t matter too much to me whether we join our French cousins in their time zone, although I have to say that anything that counters the galloping Anglicisation of this place would make a very welcome change to us crapauds – or not. I’m in favour, and will be voting that way, but its importance pales into insignificance when compared with the other small matter voters will be deciding upon this week.

And on that subject, I couldn’t agree more with the sentiments expressed by Mary Osmond in a recent letter when she reminded voters that they don’t have to use all their six votes. I’ll be voting for those I actually want representing me in the Big House and not for others simply to make up the number. There are enough of them in there already.

AND finally … While I can well understand the need to protect jobs in the light of the finance industry turmoil to which I referred earlier, there will be precious little that our elected representatives can do in this respect simply because now that the good old Jersey Savings Bank has been swallowed by first

by its big brother from across the water and then by way of a merger with Lloyds, we don’t have any
‘local’ banks, so all the decisions will be made in London or wherever the local subsidiary has its headquarters.
Perhaps some – but I stress, not all – of those who were happy to take the big bonuses and everything else that came with this greedy, unsustainable gravy train have a bit put by. For their sakes, I hope so.