WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 December 1928, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS

THE FUTURE OF ELECTRICITY;

fSpecial To The Guaudian.]

WELLINGTON, December 24. I o-day we are witnessing the mere beginnings of the service of electricity to mankind ”. was the opinion expressed by Sir Hugo Hurst, Chairman of the General Electric Coy. International tiado, lie declared, could not be earned on without electricity—the life Wood () f telegraphs, cables, telephones, wireless, etc. It enables all events o>i national importance and interest to be Hashed around the world in a few seconds, and electricity seems destined to be the evolutionary and revolutionary force in world progress, both socially and economically. Electricity lias made the whole world the market plate of the merchant and industrialist. What of the future?

In industrial development electricity is destined to take the all-important part. Not only will it cheapen production lor the* world’s manufactures, but it will make it possible ifor industry to be carried on anywhere- and under the very best of human. conditions. Coal will no longer he the main source of industrial power, but will be used more and more to produce electricity in the interests of more efficient industry. It may not wholly supplant coal, but it most certainly will cause coal to be used in ways much more productive of wealth than at present. In fact, the probability is that fuller use will lie made of the world’s coal supplies as the result olf the development of other sources of industrial power. It is no exaggeration to say that the economic prosperity of the world in future will be dependent solely upon electric power, which will bring increased industrial production and cheaper and more efficient transport. To the peoples of the world this will mean u tremendous gain in general economic security and stability. Cheaper production in manufactured articles will produce increased demand; the general standard of all people will be higher; social life will advance as (fuller advantage is taken of electric services in a modernised industry. Sea transport of the future will become more electrified, with Diesel engines generating-electric-ity on board.

Also, it is well known among students of scientific agriculture that electricity can he successfully used in increasing the production of Ifood supplies—a problem which all nations will have to face to cope with the general increase in population. Already In South America experiment has proved that the soil, when given electrical treatment, can be made to yield two crops instead of the normal annual one. Sunlight is one of the vital energisers of the soil; electricity can now produce artificial sunlight which can be used in agriculture the world over. Although somewhat in the realm of speculation, it may also be possible to treat the roots of ifruit trees in lands where,weather conditions limit with an apparatus supplying ultraviolet rays, which are so essential to successful fruit growing. Then again it is within the bounds of possibility that one day there will he invented an electric instrument which will draw heat from the air. After all electricity has made the air talk by means oif wireless; why not make it yield its natural heat? Should this invention be realised,' agriculture in the cooler countries would be given a new lease of life.

And what a revolution electricity is causing in domestic life. For most women, however happy their domestic relations, home life too often means one incessant round of drudgery. Today in every branch of home life electricity has brought labour, saving and efficiency, free hours for pleasure "or education, cleaner food and better hygiene. There is another factor, a very potent one, how far electricity can contribute to further, world peace. Wo have only to visualise in a general way how much civilisation owes to electricity and the use Of electric power to remind ourselves that we are in the grip of a force whioh has been almost entirely responsible for all human piogress worth while—in commerce, industry, domestic life, medicine, surgeiy, the theatre, and it has so far helped the world in the peaceful exploration of its vast resources. Its progress as a practical science for every day use may yet make even war impossible; it will show how much more profitable it is for all peoples to live in peace. The praotical progress of electricity means woild economical security.