The Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1928. NOTES OF THE DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18548, 23 August 1928, Page 8

The Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1928. NOTES OF THE DAY.

qpi’lE OLD-FASHIONED SUNDAY was indeed a day of gloom. It was based on Puritanical conventions that the world has now outgrown, and yet the old customs seem to stick in the minds of many churchmen. Archbishop Julius would like to brighten Sunday. If he were living his life again he would take his children to an early service and have a game of cricket with them afterwards. Something like this, we feel sure, is the safe middle course in an age in which people arc by no means disposed to accept the old-fashioned Sunday, and are quite prepared to throw religion overboard if it implies a gloomy day of rest. There is no reason at all why the churches generally should not accept tile Archbishop’s Sunday as the only rational way in which people may be induced to do their duty to themselves in the matter of religious observance. Can the churches say that the old-fashioned Sunday is a reasonable alternative? The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. Can it be truly said that Christian duty should make it a day of boredom for young or old?

r | 'WO METHODS of dealing with shortages in the nursing staffs of public hospitals have been disclosed in the last two days. The South Canterbury Board, faced with a shortage on account of sickness, decides, without any palaver, to increase the staff to meet it. The North Canterbury Board, on the other hand, cuts down its nurses’ leave, extends their hours, and hopes that tilings will soon be back to normal. The chairman, explaining why the day-off for nurses has been withdrawn, asks: “Are you going to leave the sick to take cure of themselves?” This, of course, is not the only alternative, and it is surprising to find a public man like Mr Otley putting it forward, and the Mayor supporting it. The board, by enlarging its staff, would avoid much of the constant sickness that is due to understaffing, and would create a happier, healthier spirit among the nurses, with advantage to everybody concerned. As it is, the board hopes for the best and carries on with a short staff. “ Back to normal ” is the constant hope, but even “ normal ” in Christchurch means a state of affairs quite discreditable to the board.

r I 'HE SCARE about foot-and-mouth disease having made ils appearance in the North Island quarantine station is entirely without foundation, according to the DirectorGeneral of Agriculture. This being so, the rumour should be traced to its source and an effort should be made to prevent a repetition of such a damaging statement. It is not long since a Christchurch newspaper published a scare story about anthrax having made its appearance in the province, and that statement also proved to be without foundation. Unfortunately, a rumour once started is very hard to overtake, and it may do endless damage to the country’s credit. Pastoralists just now are a little bit jumpy about the possibilities of introducing the deadly foot-and-mouth disease, from wliich New Zealand happily is free, and the proposal to introduce angora rabbits has been roundly condemned by Farmers’ Unions because of a possible risk. We think that New Zealand should be on the safe side on these matters in regard to all importations. The primary production of the country is on safe enough lines at present, and it is only necessary to keep the country clear of pests and diseases to ensure prosperity.