Merits and Crimes Of Machines Debated

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 133, 8 June 1935, Page 6

Merits and Crimes Of Machines Debated

“TIMES” TROPHY RETAINED BY CITY SPEAKERS .. Last night the "Manawatu Daily Times’-' debating trophy was competed for for the first occasion, when the Palmerston North Debating Society, initial holders, defended a challenge from tho Bunnythorpo Debating Club on the theme “That machinery has been of benefit to mankind.” The speakers were: For the affirmative, Messrs J. A. Edwards, 1?. Allison, K. N. Struthcrs; for the negative, Messrs P. Tulloch, 0. Jackson, A. Tub loch. Tho leaders were allowed 15 minutes and their supporters 10 minutes each, with a reply of 10 minutes for each side. Mr W. B. Tenuent, president of the city club, was chairman, while Mr A. E. Wright adjudicated. Air Edwards said that it was not necessary to prove that a Utopia existed. For most people prosperity connoted plenty of work, but this wao fallacious. Work was sought not for itself, but for the benefits it conferred. Thcro was no thing that had conferred more benefits for less effort than machinery. Machinery had gone far to kindle tolerance and goodfellowskip among tho world's nations. It would be a potent agent for the eventual abolition of war. Apparent exceptions did not detract from the broad principle of machinery’s assistance toman. Air P. Tulloch pictured a world of 32,000,000 unemployed, of disease, death, and war destruction stalking in tho train of machinery. Its more obvious benefits were but the silver lining of a gloomy cloud. To machinery must be attributed the criminal destruction of “surpluses” in the midst of starvation; it emphasised inequalities of wealth and perpetuated monopoly control. It had conferred on magnates power over tho destinies of millions, and the power of making peaco and war. It had made a civilisation of millionarics and paupers. Just as the world honoured Wilbcrforce, it would come to honour the inventors who had released millions of industrial slaves, declared Air Allison. To-day the masses enjoyed luxuries denied tho wealthy of 100 years ago. Children were infinitely better off today. In the alleviation of human suffering machinery had achieved incalculable good. It had conferred freedom on woman, harnessed tho forces of the universe for tho service of man, and given leisuro for the enjoyment of more fruitful lives.

Mr Jackson depicted the horrors of war with the infernal machine pressed into service, decimating the choicest of the world’s citizens. By land, sea and air the same tale was a tragic one. . The application of gas as a weapon was truly diabolic, and tlio rain of death from the sky was equally so. Tho price of machinery’s advent had been too high—suffering, grief, poverty.

The advantages to the worker of machinery’s reign were outlined by Mr Strathers —shorter hours, removal of brutalising influences, elimination of sweating, opportunity for organisation, mobility, education. Tasks hitherto impossible could now be achieved by the machine, which allowed for concentration, accumulation and transference of power. The machine to the twentiethcentury person was both god and slave driver, said Mr P. Tulloch. He worshipped the thing which had made him a human robot, crushing his individuality. The existence of “garden villages” for the few, was proof of the utter wretchedness of the many. But the machine’s supreme legacy was unemployment —12 million people cast aside as flotsam. Malnutrition was the brand placed by the machine on the Tisiug generation.

Messrs P. Tulloch and Edwards conducted tho replies. Mr Wright offered some helpful criticisms on the speakers and their style, and announced the result: Palmerston North, 2GO points; Bunnythorpe, 263. Marks awarded were: Mr Edwards 87, reply 17; Mr Allison S 3, Mr Struthers 79. Mr Tulloch SG, reply 18; Mr Jackson 79, Mr A. Tulloch 80.

Tho trophy was handed to Mr Edwards by the adjudicator. A vote of thanks was accorded the donors.