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Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1936, Page 4

A very interesting discussion was opened by Lord Horder, at the British Association for the Advancement of Science, on. the phyicological strain caused by modern civilised conditions, and uttered a. warning that, says the Spectator' most middle-class people would do well to hear, "in case after case,” lie said, “a tactfully conducted pursuit after fundamental causes removed the screen of headache insomnia, iudAges‘ti.o'.i au l f abi $ le. and revealed the anxiety factor.” Fundamentally, that is, anxiety is among the" commonest causes of serious disease. Why are we so much more anxious than our parents or, our grandparents were? Partly, no doubt, because our material standards of life are higher, and we quail more before the deeper drop from them. Partly, because we are conscious, In the near background, of social and international insecurities, which, before. 1914, seemed much less real. Partly because, in the general decay of religious faith, a thought like “casting all your care upon Him,” .scarcely sustains as many thousands to-day as lb sustained 'hundred of thousands half a century ago. Partly, again, because the systems of social insurance, which have made the manual worker’s life less precarious, are suck as in effect to leave the brain-worker out. The last point sugegsts, perhaps, the line of remedy for statesmen.