THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS 23 
With regard to the latter it is surely right that those in touch with 
science should insist that the replacement of human labour will 
continue. Those who doubt this cannot realise the meaning of 
that positive acceleration in science, pure and applied, which now 
continues. No one can say what kind of equilibrium the distribution 
of leisure is fated to reach. In any case an optimistic view as to 
the probable effects of its increase may be justified. 
It need not involve a revolutionary change if there is real planning 
for the future. Lord Melchett was surely right when some time 
ago he urged on the upper House that present thought should be 
given to that future; but I think few men of affairs seriously 
believe what is yet probable, that the replacement we are thinking of 
will impose a new structure upon society. This may well differ in 
some essentials from any of those alternative social forms of which 
the very names now raise antagonisms. I confess that if civilisation 
escapes its other perils I should fear little the final reign of the 
machine. We should not altogether forget the difference in use 
which can be made of real and ample leisure compared with that 
possible for very brief leisure associated with fatigue; nor the 
difference between compulsory toil and spontaneous work. Wehave 
to picture, moreover, the reactions of a community which, save 
for a minority, has shown itself during recent years to be educable. 
I do not think it fanciful to believe that our highly efficient national 
broadcasting service, with the increased opportunities which the 
coming of short wave-length transmission may provide, might well 
take charge of the systematic education of adolescents after the 
personal influence of the schoolmaster has prepared them to profit 
by it. It would not be a technical education but an education for 
leisure. Listening to organised courses of instruction might at first 
befor the few; but ultimately might become habitual in the com- 
munity which it would specially benefit. 
In parenthesis allow me a brief further reference to ‘ planning.’ 
The word is much to the front just now, chiefly in relation with 
current enterprises. But there may be planning for more funda- 
mental developments ; for future adjustment to social reconstructions. 
In such planning the trained scientific mind must play its part. Its 
vision of the future may be very limited, but in respect of material 
progress and its probable consequences Science (I include all 
branches of knowledge to which the name applies) has at least 
better data for prophecy than other forms of knowledge. 
It was long ago written, ‘Wisdom and Knowledge shall be 
stability of Thy times.’ Though statesmen may have wisdom ade- 
quate for the immediate and urgent problems with which it is their 
fate to deal, there should yet be a reservoir of synthesised and 
clarified knowledge on which they can draw. The technique which 
