AT SCIENCE CONGRESS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1931, Page 5

AT SCIENCE CONGRESS

SCIENCE AND THE SLUMP

GENERAL SMUTS GENERALISE®.

United Press Association.-—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

LONDON, September 25

At th e Science Congress, General Smuts, in his presidental address said that though South Africa was less affected by the depression prevailing than were Canada, Australia, and New Zealand it was for the farmers as if another war had ravaged the world. He feared there would be a vast social upheaval, unless a way out could be found, hr cause the present situation u*as an unbearable one. There was almost economic enslavement in mankind’s primary industry. The progress of science and the development of the Empire he said had falsied the late Sir Wdlilam Crookes’ prophecies regarding agriculture. Apparently, science must now be halted in order to terminate the agricultural depression.

Science had upset agriculture’s apple cart throughout the world. YVe must co-ordinate tire results of science and keep the system in step with the farmer,s who were bad business men. Production alone absorbed their energies and this prevented them from marketing their products. Farming might he organised iii order that the products should ■ reach the consumer without the payment of an exoi'bitation tribute to a host of middlemen. The Empire Marketing Board’s activities were most helpful to imperial relations. Until the Board appeared, there was not the nucleus of an essential staff organisation. The Board should be allowed to function as be-

ing one of the strongest imperial links. It could ration the markets between tlie various parts of the Empire. The Empire was favourably situated for organised exchange. Pre-

ference would meet many of its economic difficulties. He hoped the Marketing Board would investigate the questions which preference would not meet and especially that of marketing by contract. Sir Daniel Hall recalled the fact that 1400 out of the 3600 Australian farmers, who had supplied statistics to the Empire Marketing Board, did not achieve half their average production. Farming was hampered by the human lag, and inherited social conditions. 'Science controlled nature. He said it should control human nature.