MODERN LIFE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20040, 23 September 1930, Page 11

MODERN LIFE.

OVERLOADING OUR RESOURCES. Making -reference to the ' shortage of electric power in Canterbury, Archbishop Julius, in the course of. a sermon at the Cathedral on Sunday evening, contended that the failure was typical of the attitude of the people of to-day towards life, in that they were living beyond -their resources and indulging in too many easily-gained luxuries. The citizens of Christchurch, he said, had shown remarkable patience under the inconvenience which they* had suffered through the power shortage. Some were inclined to criticise : the authorities, but even had warning of the shortage been given months ago none would have heeded it. It might be said that the Church should set an example in economising power, and hold their services in the afternoons instead of the evening; but people would not attend,' he said, if that were done. The whole trouble of the power crisis was that the source of supply had been overloaded. Water had been looked for from streams which'were liable to drain' dry, instead of from the continuously snow-clad mountains. In the same way, the people of to-day were not looking "to the hills from whence should their help come." They were living beyond : their incomes, and luxuries were too easy to obtain. People were helped'in; that by a ; pernicious system under which a . small deposit was sufficient to obtain anything that was wanted. For £2O, a motor-car could be obtained. Then instalments failed—the supply was cut off, and the light failed. Lack of religion was largely responsible for the' present attitude towards' *life. It seemed to be thought that religion meant beinrf a good fellow. It was not only good-fellowship, and there' was. more ■ in '.religion" than having a' few good qualities. That was not the religion that Christ taught and His' light had never failed.