G.— ENGINEERING 141 



million unemployed in the U.S.A. is due entirely to internal causes, such 

 as I have outlined, and would not be helped in the least by the extinction 

 of the war debt. 



Some people blame the gold standard, forgetting that the monetary 

 transactions of the world are carried out mainly by cheque, which would 

 operate in exactly the same way whatever might be the standard. Banking 

 accounts are nothing more than the book-keeping of services rendered, 

 and the cheques are given for such services. The gold standard does at 

 least help to steady the value of the £, and that must be all to the good in 

 commerce. Some complain that there is a scarcity of money and say that 

 an inflation would be useful. Whatever may be the temporary eflFect of 

 inflation, it is clear that only the world's useful activities can ultimately 

 result in greater material wealth. 



Some say that it is the deficiency of trade between states that is at the 

 root of the evil. Trade between states is useful in bringing about the 

 exchange of commodities, but otherwise it does not contribute to man's 

 well-being. It is languishing now because the average standard of life 

 of the inhabitants of the world is low. Let the engineer raise that standard 

 and world trade will flourish because there will be a greater need for the 

 exchange of commodities. 



Given a central authority of sufficient power to preserve peace, general 

 disarmament would undoubtedly help matters because it would release 

 machinery and personnel to raise still further the standard of life. But 

 until we get a powerful and wise central authority, nations will prefer to 

 trust to their own strength. A comprehensive world plan under which 

 each individual could be provided for independently of the strength of his 

 nation would do more than anything else to relieve the tension between 

 nations and bring about disarmament. 



I now come to the question, ' How could the engineer make things 

 better ? ' 



A committee of engineers given control of the whole world would not 

 attempt to tackle the whole problem at once. The world would have to 

 wait for the growth of an organisation operating at first over a small area, 

 and extending as it gained experience. 



A suitable place to begin might be one of the states of North America, 

 already provided with most of its raw material. Or it might be better 

 to begin in Europe. France would be suitable as it is already nearly 

 self-supporting, but only a small self-supporting part of that country 

 would at first come under the scheme. 



An estimate would be made of the standard of life that could be obtained 

 by the average inhabitant provided he worked well and was aided by the 

 best machinery and organisation. A promise would then be made to 

 provide the houses, furniture, clothing, food, fuel, education and enter- 

 tainment in exchange for the services of the individual. Payment would 

 be made by cheques the nominal values of which would be adjusted on the 

 low side so as to allow for accidental losses and defective workmanship. 

 Though the state would need a gold backing for these cheques to begin 

 with, the real backing of the cheques would be the wealth produced. 



