Electricity: The ‘Spirit of Progress’

Abstract

Five quotations sum up the contents of this work. The South African Electricity Supply Commission sees its task as ‘to render, by the provision of power without profit, a worthy and ever-increasing contribution to the development of South Africa and the welfare of her peoples’.¹ An engineer estimates that ‘[an electric] coal-cutter probably saves forty natives’.² A railway worker records, ‘there is no more work for us … as electric trains are now being used … We are now four years out of work.’³ A journalist reports, ‘the saving by the use of electricity by Rand Mines alone will represent an aggregate of over £300 000 per annum’.⁴ A workers’ union notes, ‘fittings for electric lights have been installed but no light is provided. Paraffin lamps are used.’⁵