MACHINES LIKE MEN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 5 September 1927, Page 7

MACHINES LIKE MEN.

FORECAST OF THE FUTURE

PROTECTION FOR. MOTOR LIFE. LONDON. August 22. A standardised, machine-made type of mechanical man, capable of standing any amount of wear and tear, and practically immortal — This is hut one of the many amazing forecasts made at a big gathering ot futurists at Milan, says the •‘Observer's” Rome correspondent. Comprehensively reporting on the meeting, he says: *‘lt was decided to lound a ‘Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Machines’ along the lines of the Society for the Prevention ol Cruelty to Animals. “The object, of the society is lo saleguard flic life anil ryfchnm of machinery. especially motors, ‘which are the most sociable of all machines.’ “In his report. Signor Azari, secretary of the movement said that the machine was destined to ‘redeem humanity from slavery and manual jabour.' it would definitely eliminate 'poverty and all traces ol the class struggle. Humanity of the luture would be completely served by docile, formidable generations of machines. “It tould not be denied, he said, that machines possess sensibility and susceptibility to a marked degree. The same machine behaved quite differentjv under difteront operators. lhcic had been cases when although the atmospheric and other conditions were excellent, all the motors in a military aviation camp refused to start, as it in protest against some grievance. “ ‘Although it is undeniable that all machines possess a rudimentary soul," added Signor Azari. ‘there are brutes who ignore the fact, and treat the poor things in the most heartless manner There are some exceptionally bad cases. " Often they have made my heart bleed. Hence the necessity for a society for the protection of ill-treat-ed machines, on which we shall ha\e to relv exclusively for our existence when the onward march of progress and civilisation lias swept all the lower form of animal life off the earth, and our food will be mainly machinemade The cities of the future will not contain a useless garbage ot trees and flowers in loathsome promiscuity with animals, but geometrical buildings in glass and cement, and, above all, machines, machines, and machines.