March of Science

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19622, 4 May 1938, Page 15

March of Science

Sir,—lnto our correspondence on the "March of Science" Mr. Callahan introduces the half-truth that "machines create work." It is also a general impression that machines save work," and that statement contains just about as much truth as Mr. Callahan's. But I am not concerned with refuting or substantiating either. The point I touched on did not refer to the-sum total of work in the world—on which I have no definite information—but rarncr to the fact that new machines frequently required a new skill and a new type of labour, for which the workers the machines displaced were ill-adapted. A man who is out-of-work under those conditions, especially in industrial centres and particularly if he were middle-aged, is faced with the prospect of spending the remainder of his days on the dole and sustenance.

Mr. Callahan also considers that the enormous destruction effected by modern weapons has a beneficial influence in holding aggressive nations in check. That has not been the case recently 'with Germany, Japan or Italy. Those nations that are exercising restraint, chiefly Britain and America, do so at the moment, realising their unpreparedness. But what of the future? In spite of untruths to the contrary, history has shown that preparations for war ultimately end in war; and history has a way of repeating itself. I am pleased to note that Mr. Callahan, agreed with my letter in principle. I would like to add that a true principle is not much use so long as it merely remains a principle. It is useful only when it becomes a practice. —Yours, etc., I ALLAN J. SHACKLETON.