Hands versus Brains

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 40, 17 April 1930, Page 27

Hands versus Brains

[tz is hard to believe that the same line of thought persists in some quarters to-day, that obtained nearly one hundred years ago, when Charlotte Bronte described in "Shirley" the violent resistance of the mill-workers to the introduction of machinery. Yet there are still some, women especially, astonishingly slow to take advantage of the work of others’ brains to assist them in the. reduction of their own, often heavy, manual labour. Such people surely forget or overlook the fact thht in resisting thc tendency of the age, they are being left behind, growing old in mind and body before theiz} time. , t is just those who accept and avail themselves of changing conditions who retain the spirit of youth, once lost, so seldom recaptured. The woman who practises endurance beyond her strength by adhering to old, slow laborious methods should not deceive herself with the idea that she is practising a virtue; rathe" is she squandering her life by persisting in the vice of obstinacy. The same shortsightedness is to be seen as in the case of the old Yorkshire mill-workers, who could only see invention replacing labour, instead of both joining forces; the craftsman by the power of his hands on his side supplying the necessary material to enable the brain-worker’s researches to be transformed into power-the inventor supplying the idea to lighten the ""fabour of the manual worker. ‘ N no sphere is this more clearly emphasised than in the general development: of electricity. Some urge that life is becoming too hurried, too complieated and complain of too much "speed-ing-up" and it has been noticeable during the sittings of the Arbitration Courts with regard to workers’ awards, that more often is the opportunity for Increased leisure demanded than increased wages. Increased leisure can only come to us in the home to-day by the more speedy performance of work, and this use of electricity is rapidly extending. Many homes are easier to-day because of the introduction of sufficient electrical power to do the heavy work of the house. With its myriads of applications, electricity in the home resolves itself into three uses-electricity for light. for heat and for power. Xf you doubt either its beneficial or economical application to your own ease, do not jump to conclusions or depend upon hearsay as to expense. Rates were never easier than to-day, appliances never more easily obtainable, never so efficient. Figure out for yourself what you are spending on lighting, ‘heating and service by oldfashioned methods, then inquire into the cost of doing the same electrically and we shall be surprised if you do not find the resulting economy will quickly repay the cost of installation.