The Christchurch Star New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1932. A NATIONAL DANGER.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 457, 19 May 1932, Page 8

The Christchurch Star New Zealand Newspapers Ltd.

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1932. A NATIONAL DANGER.

Gloucester Street and Cathedral Square CHRISTCHURCH riEW ZEALAND London Representatives ! R» B. BRETT & SOU NEW BRIDGE HOUSE, 30/34 NEW BRIDGE STREET LONDON, E.C.4,

SIGNIFICANCE is added to the * Papal Encyclical, in its condemnation of “ exaggerated nationalism,” by the fact that this is the very ill that Italy is suffering from most acutely to-day. But the danger that the Encyclical has in mind is present, in this matter, not only in respect to Italy but to every country in which the function of nationality is diverted to some expression of exclusiveness, with the ultimate fact of war in the background. That every nation should idealise itself is commendable, for few persons are prepared to accept the inilk-and-watery internationalism for which Communism stands to-day, but where that idealisation is in contrast or opposed to some other people or nation, an instinct of combativeness pervades all forms of national consciousness, and becomes in itself a menace to the peace of the world. The receipt of the Encyclical will be awaited with interest in its bearing on the Christian as against the pagan ethic in this regard, the more so as it is a condemnation of those other growing evils of Communism and corruption. THE SIDEY MEDAL. 'T'O COMMEMORATE the adop--A tion of daylight saving in New Zealand, nothing could be more appropriate than the award of a Sidey Medal, but the New Zealand Institute should carefully frame the conditions attaching to the award, which is to be made “ for the paper or other work considered to be the most outstanding contribution to the advantages not only of summer time, but also to the value of light and its allied properties to human welfare.” With every confidence in the value of the printed page, the “ Star ” would still prefer to see the award made not to the writer of a paper, but to persons, let us say, who had organised a Sunlight League, or presented a park to the people, or who w'ere associated with some outdoor activity which was definitely furthered by daylight saving. If tbe “ other works ” mentioned by the Institute include such activities, there is the possibility that the award will be lifted above tbe plane of academic uselessness. BOYS AS TYPISTS. ' r ptiE WELLINGTON member of the Chamber of Commerce who advocates the employment of boys as shorthand-typists is taking rather a short view of their welfare. In spite of the intensive training necessary for expertness, in the majority of cases the shorthandtypist’s job is a blind alley occupation, and one which would be very unsatisfying to boys of any spirit or ambition. Indeed, it is rather in their favour that thdy have been saved from this dead end. It is not accidental that schools of shorthand and typewriting are composed almost exclusively of girls, for universal experience has justified their place in the commercial world. The woman’s-place-is-in-the-home cry sounds rather archaic to thinking people nowadays, but it can perhaps best be answered in the words of the Hon Mrs Dighton Pollock: It is still quite a common view that women who work are depriving men of employment. This is, of course, nothing less than an unashamed assertion that women have no right to compete on equal terms with men, and that consequently they should always be in a dependent or semi-de-pendent position. Apart from the obvious injustice of such a view, one wonders whether men really wish to support their sisters, cousins and aunts as well as their wives, and if not, what is supposed to happen to the women who will not marry? Boys without work are entitled to help, but there is no wisdom in ousting girls from jobs that would give their brothers temporary relief, but no permanent satisfaction.