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FIRE IN THE EARTH
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chanical saw—now about 30 years old!) as was used in the trade nearly 200 years ago.
The
polisher's scaif is identically the same, except that an electric motor
provides the power to drive the machine instead of the cutter's wife or
children rotating a large belt-coupled driving wheel operated by means
of a hand-actuated pitman.
Tradition
and lack of enterprise have glaringly suppressed progress in the
cutting factories. The belief that the cutter's art is handed down from
generation to generation has had nothing else but a retarding influence
on the development of improvements in cutting technique. The
dissemination of this type of propaganda has merely had the effect of
mystifying the public and of protecting a relatively simple art behind
a false facade.
This
fact is substantially borne out by the persistent display of reluctance
on the part of the diamond cutters' unions of South Africa and America
to encourage the training of a larger proportion of apprentices in all
branches of the trade. If this is not the case, then their motive is
difficult to comprehend, as the South African and American born
apprentices have taken to the art most readily and have become
thoroughly proficient and skilful artificers in an incredibly short
space of time.
It
is a great pity that this indefensible obstinacy cannot be overcome,
and that closer cooperation between master cutters and cutters cannot
be secured as the production of polished goods is today being badly
restricted by this shortsighted policy. This policy should not be
permitted to persist. . . . The introduction of young and new blood is
bound to disturb the stagnancy at present prevailing in this respect
and with this fresh blood will come new ideas and more active energy.
To assure the future stability of the trade the old-fashioned order
must undoubtedly make way for the new and the Governments of South
Africa, America and England should do everything possible to encourage
this metamorphosis and secure for their respective countries the
permanency of this industry which is a coveted asset in the economic
life of any country.
If
nothing else is achieved, Messrs. Baumgolds' new factory will have at
least accomplished this: Firstly, it will have started the
transformation of the antiquated order; secondly it will have brought
in new apprentices to be trained on more scientific lines;
(112)
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