A GREAT machine in the Wembley Exhibition has been set in motion by power conveyed by wireless from Manchester. This is an event of portentous significance, a suggestion of development that must inevitably bring about a revolutionary change in the organization of industry. It is stated that from one station in the Midlands sufficient power could be generated to run every factory, every train and every tram in the country, to light every town and village, and to provide the necessary power for telegraphs and telephones. The generation of power at present costs the country hundreds of millions of pounds every year. If this one wireless station were set up the millions would become thousands. Infinitely less labour would be required; anyone could help himself to the power by setting up an aerial, and it is perfectly obvious that the present competitive system in industry would be necessarily and immediately modified. Production would be vastly cheapened. This is no fantastic dream of a remote future; it is a possibility of next year or the year after. It certainly should give statesmen furiously to think. Incidentally, if this development occurs, the country will be absolutely in the power of a handful of workers, and strikes will necessarily be punished as treason. We shall be obliged to revise our category of offences.
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