THE MACHINE AGE.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 13, Issue 31, 1 August 1923, Page 13

THE MACHINE AGE.

The Editor, Sir,— The quotation from Marx under this heading in your issue of the 18th inst.: —"Owing to the extensive use of machinery and to the division of labour, the work of the proletariat has lost all individual character, and consequently all charm for the workman," revived in my mind the wonderful foresight of the great German economist. In no trade perhaps has this been made more apparent than in the one in which I have been more or less engaged for nearly €0 years of my life, viz., the bootmakers' craft. Even up to eight years, ago, a fair number cf men could he found in all colonial cities who could make a really firstclass hand welted boot. To-day they are almost extinct. Truly- as Marx says: "The work has lost ail charm for the workman, all individuality in destroyed, and the vorkman. becomes a mere cog in the machine" (where he gets the chance at all).

Threo or four first-class craftsmen who worked with mc at the time I refer to, are content to-day with a few days now and then on the wharf. Some will probably say who do not know better: "Oh! h'<zi sec how machinery has reduced the cost to the consumed." Has it? Let's see. At the time I am" referring to. I made gent's box calf or glace kid boots to measure for £1/2/6. To-day a similar boct made by machine. i« ■£■ 2 'to £2/5/- ready made, and if the opinion of an old ".craft" was asked he would describe the latter as "an abortion." (Now what is the operative's position? Again, as Marx says: "He becomes an appendage-of the _ achine, and it is on the most simple monotonous and easily acquired knack that is required of him." Yes I And don't forget n J factory hand today learns how to make a boot throTLgnout. What lie generally dees Is to learn one part or branch only, or the use of one class of machine. This makes the operative a greater slave than he wac as a craftsman, for he is more easily replaced as a- ma--cliine-xr»iu.dGr ttiau tie was as a cro.ftsman. It is also very questioi'ialua if the machine made the operative's work any lighter; on the contrary, the vibration, noise, dust, and the pace he is ever urged to maintain, will be found, I think, to result, in. shorter lives for the factory "hands" than was the case with the old "craft."

Another point for consideration is the introduction of female labour into many callings formerly solely confined to males. With the knowledge of birth restriction to-day and fewer or no children, the man and woman are both working in offices, factories, etc., so we have the woman often employed because she is cheaper, and the pair both working for a li'-rhiix. Years ago I pointed out that the man should bo paid sufficient to maintain a family and that he should not be brought into competition possibly with his own wife, sister, or daughter, to produce profits for the master class. This is more evident to-day than at the time I drew attention to it. —Yours faithfully, Wellington. J. B. HULBERT.