QUESTIONABLE.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17409, 23 May 1928, Page 6

QUESTIONABLE.

" Because of the abominable nature of man," u celebrity of a former ace, Leonarda da Vinci declined to spread the knowledge of many discoveries be had made. Some modern inventors would have prevented a vast amount of distress, for a lime at least, if they had exercised a like restraints Man still puts new inventions to abominable uuacs. Marconi is said to have exclaimed when he discovered bow to manipulate radio power: "Thank God my invention cannot be used for war." But human canlankerousness has made even wireless a subject of strife, and Mr Marconi himself is being blamed by

some critics in the British Parliament for the wrong use made of the newpower. At first the advent of wireless gave hope that, the cost of telegrams sent across the world would be reduced from pounds to pence, but the controllers of cables and wireless stations have seen that, if they unite and form a monopoly, they may be able to extract larger profits from I heir fellowmen. The British and Dominion Governments had means of preventing such a move by virtue of their shares in the Pacific Cable Company and their control over wireless transmitting stations. But apparently the merger is an accomplished I'acl. II is very much open to doubt whether it will bring any permanent advantage to the investors, since I lie first Labour Government that, comes into office in Britain will almost certainly impose severe restrictions on profits or else take over the services, both cable and wireless. If the companies had been content to go their separate ways, vying with each other in efficiency and cheapness of service, even Socialists might have been content to leave well alone. As it is. a corporation has been formed with such huge powers that, even non-Socialists see the necessity of some form of public control. For the principle of the merger it may he said that all business now tends in that direction. Some European writers have predicted that trade and industry will come under a three-parly control—the investors, the workers and the customers all being represented in industrial Parliaments to decide the relation of wages, prices and profits in each business. But we are far from this and there is constant strife between the producers and consumers as to price and between investors and workers as to the division of the wealth produced. We are reminded once more of how far our manipulation of human goodwill lags behind our manipulation of mechanical forces. The goodwill is there, just as was the power that made radio possible. But we are slow to devise and to use the machinery of goodwill. Until we do so inventions tend to be a curse instead of the boon they ought to be.