NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22877, 4 November 1937, Page 10

NOTES AND COMMENTS

AMOEBA INTO MAN "Tempered optimism is, I think, one of the chief contributions that evolutionary biology has made to general thought," said Mr. Julian Huxley in a recent broadcast talk. "Evolution has shown that progress is a fact. Progres is not inevitable, it occurs only in a few lines —but it occurs as a result of the purely blind, unconscious and mechanical agencies of variation and natural selection. In those circumstances it is wasteful, cruel and slow; but if human beings set themselves to the task, they could make it purposeful and conscious—could get rid of much of its wastefulness and cruelty, and could speed it up enormously. 'I he astronomers give this earth at least as long a future as it has already had a past. If wo reflect that the blind foroos of nature in the past transformed some primitive microscopic creature like a bacterium or an amoeba into man, what may not human will and intellect accomplish in the future, in improving our own nature and achievements?"

NOISE ABATEMENT "I should not think there is one of us who sighs for a completely noiseless world, but 1 should say that nearly I everyone will agree it is becoming in- | creasingly hard to get away from undue j noise," said Dr. G. \Y. C. Kayo, supcr- | intendent of the physios department jat the National Physical Laboratory, I London, in a recent address. "What ! are we doing to help along the good | work of noise abatement? In some j countries there are now severe legal . prohibitions against noise, but f think j that progress is far more likely to I come from research and from public opinion. As to research, different laboratories are devoting a lot of attention to reducing noises at their source (which is usually the most effective and economical plan), or 'smothering the noises by means of absorbing barriers of one sort or another. Of course, there is no such thing as a sound-proof material and success in sound-insulation is largely a matter of design. \ou can see that from the fact that modern buildings do not provide the protection from noise that the more solid houses of a generation ago did." DICTATORSHIPS* WEAKNESS The underlying weakness of dictatorships was emphasised by Sir •John Simon, Chancellor of the Exchequer. in a speech to the Scottish Liberal National Association. " I am completely convinced that the good sense and resilience of the British character and judgment are going to show themselves a match for any new-fangled form of constitution elsewhere," lie said. " Do not let us be misled by these appearances of great mechanical solidarity. These States may give an appearance of great solidarity, and no doubt it is very impressive to see millions of people marshalled like one man. But there is a weakness in the very nature and philosophy of the dictator State from which we are free. Tn this country, fiercely as we contest for our political faith, and sincerely convinced as we are that if the opposition were to succeed it would be disaster for the country, still when the electron is over there is not one of us who will not accept loyally the decision of the majority. We would sooner see our opponents put in power than see our constitution smashed." ATTITUDE TO COLONIES One major conclusion of the International Studies Conference, held in Paris, was, in the opinion of several American delegates, that territorial transfer of any kind, whether in Europe or in Africa, is one of the least promising forms of peaceful change, writes Professor Eugene Stalev in the Christian Science Monitor. Perhaps some slight territorial adjustments can be made, but for the most part readjustments will have to be sought in the direction of reducing obstacles to economic intercourse. As one delegate put it. not so much to change boundaries as to lessen the importance of boundaries should be the strategy of peaceful change. However, tho conference registered a decided shift in the attitude toward colonies and those who possess them which has been more and more evident in recent years. Delegates from countries that have large colonial empires, as well as from those that do not, remarked that 110 longer] can colonies be regarded as tho private preserves of the countries that admin- j ister them. Not simply the interests of. the colony-owning country, but the j interests of the natives and the in-1 terests of the world at large must be; taken into account in the formation i of policy. Eventually, and this was j stated especially by the British ex-1 perts, one must expect colonies to "grow up" and achieve independence or dominion status. In the meantime, colonial administration must be regarded as trusteeship, not as an opportunity for exploitation.

WORKERS WHO DAY-DREAM Workers engaged on monotonous tasks who spend their time day-dream-ing were discussed by Miss Madeline Rooff, tutor in the Department of Sociology at Bedford College, London University, speaking at the Industrial Welfare Society's conference at Oxford.

Recent investigations, she said, had emphasised tbo part played by outside activities in reveries indulged in by workers in repetitive industries. The majority of workers indulged in reveries, and this was thought to be one of tlio most effective antidotes to boredom. For the mass of the people, said Miss Rooff, increased mechanism meant less interesting work, and leisure-time pursuits took a correspondingly increasing importance. An investigation made by the Medical Research Council's Industrial Health Research Board into tho subjects which Avert; talked about by piece-workers in a particular factory showed that the most popular subjects were various outside pursuits. The second in importance was the opposite sex. Then came conditions of work which were disliked. Film stars and films came fourth and local gossip and scandal fifth. "Attention may bo directed," said Miss Rood, "to the frequent references to features of work that were disliked. Repetitive workers have plenty of time for thought. It is not surprising that difficulties and annoyances occupy a prominent, place in their minds. The individual is constantly reminded of unpleasant features of work, and the mind tends to dwell on these; aspects of the industrial situation. As a result they become exaggerated and form a subtle and developing background of discontent which reduces pleasure and interest in work.'*