The Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1927. NOTES OF THE DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18338, 15 December 1927, Page 8

The Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1927. NOTES OF THE DAY.

AN'TERBURY’S CRICKETERS have an important task before them this year—the task of making amends for poor interprovincial performances last season. As the representative eleven will be chosen on Saturday, it is timely to remind the selectors that youthful keenness and enterprise are essential. In the past this province has suffered from the inclusion of men generally reckoned to be veterans, reliable enough perhaps as batsmen or bowlers, but very slow in the field and lacking the dash necessary to carry them through an emergency. The New Zealand cricketers that did so splendidly on the English tour were young players. They were always refreshingly alive, and no big sedre by the enemy ever over-awed them. The Canterbury selectors should keep these points well in front of them, on Saturday evening. It is useless to embark on an expensive coaching system if the very men who are profiting by it have their ambition deadened by the thought that the chance of shining in big games is reserved for men of experience only. /~\NEY by meeting the Government with a united front and refusing to be put off by vague promises will the supply authorities of Canterbury and North Otago make certain that future hydro-electricity requirements are adequately provided for. The need for a resolute stand was convincingly demonstrated at yesterday’s conference. The use of electricity for domestic purposes is increasing steadily over a wide area, and there is every reason to anticipate that the demand on Lake Coleridge will have reached the maximum of supply by the winter of 1929 at least. That means nothing else than another shortage of power such as Canterbury has experienced with unsatisfactory results in the past. The consequence, as one engineer put it, will be an economic loss to the country, an economic loss to the supply authorities, and an economic loss to the consumers. Completion of the Waitaki scheme at the earliest possible date is, therefore, imperative. Already there has been too much delay in connection with the preliminary work, and the deputation appointed to wait on the Minister of Public Works should not hesitate to say so. TN England to-day, according to a cable message, Sir James Parr, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, will inspect a hostel that has been established as a training school for domestic servants. The idea is that suitable girls should be given lessons extending over six or ten weeks under conditions as nearly as possible similar to those in the Dominions. Phe scheme has already received support from many influential people at Home, and it is likely to prove of great assistance in connection with immigration. “ The stigma which was once cast on domestic service and nursing is now removed," said the Duchess of Atholl, speaking at a meeting of the League of Skilled House Craft in London last month. “ Girls who enter domestic service are in many respects far better off than girls who go out as typists or into factories, for domestic work has far greater variety and calls for more individuality and resourcefulness.” Nowhere is there greater need for trained domestic help than in Australia and New Zealand at the present tjme. Many of the old prejudices against such a calling unfortunately still remain, but there are signs, nevertheless, of a new outlook. The hostel at Market Ilarborough to be inspected by Sir James Parr shows that domestic service is fast becoming recognised as an honourable profession. Girls coming to the Dominion from such an institution need never fear that their calling will he ridiculed.