Asian Nations and Multinationals: Overcoming The Limits To Growth Bernadette Andreosso-O'Callaghan Download PDF
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Asian Nations and
Multinationals
Overcoming the Limits to
Growth
Edited by
Bernadette Andreosso-O’Callaghan
Jacques Jaussaud
M. Bruna Zolin
Asian Nations and Multinationals
Bernadette Andreosso-O’Callaghan
Jacques Jaussaud
M. Bruna Zolin
Editors
This Palgrave Pivot imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature
Switzerland AG
The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
Acknowledgements
v
Contents
vii
viii Contents
Part IV Conclusion
Index 199
Notes on Contributors
xi
xii Notes on Contributors
xvii
xviii Abbreviations
Chapter 4
Fig. 1 Fluctuation in the overall attributes of world
trade network for the period 1995–2013 52
Fig. 2 Kernel density estimation of nodes degree and nodes
strength of world trade network in 1995, 2004
and 2013: nodes degree (left), nodes strength (right) 53
Fig. 3 Fluctuation in the average value of ANND
and WANND during 1995–2013 55
Fig. 4 Kernel density estimation of nodes difference
and weighted network clustering coefficient
of world trade network during 1995, 2004 and
2013: nodes difference (left), weighted network
clustering coefficient (right) 56
Fig. 5 Fluctuation in world trade network nodes attributes 57
Chapter 5
Fig. 1 The EU’s agricultural trade with major Asian countries
during 1999–2015 (Source Author’s calculations
based on data from the UN Comtrade database) 76
Chapter 6
Fig. 1 Malaysian and Indonesian palm oil production
(1964–2017) (Source Authors’ elaboration
on Index Mundi data 2017a) 87
Fig. 2 Word consumption of vegetable oil (1996–2017)
(Source Authors’ elaboration on USDA FAS data 2017) 87
xxi
xxii List of Figures
Chapter 3
Table 1 Sample characteristics 35
Chapter 4
Table 1 QAP correlation analysis result of world trade network
matrix W and other influencing factors 60
Table 2 QAP correlation analysis result of influencing factors 61
Table 3 Result of model fitting 61
Table 4 Regression coefficient and test index of variable matrix
through QAP regression analysis 62
Chapter 5
Table 1 Analysed agricultural and food products 74
Table 2 The percentage changes on exports from selected
Asian countries to the EU market 77
Chapter 6
Table 1 Top five palm oil producers (2017) 86
Table 2 Top five palm oil exporters and importers in 2017
(1000 tonnes) 88
Table 3 ADF unit root test for prices of vegetable oils 94
Table 4 Johansen cointegration test for vegetable oil prices 94
Chapter 7
Table 1 Summary of key findings from the previous studies
on UILs in Thailand 104
Table 2 Business R&D in Thailand’s food-processing
industry, 2014 107
xxiii
xxiv List of Tables
Robert Taylor
R. Taylor (*)
University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
Is, for example, CCP control of social media compatible with the internet
as a source of innovation and economic growth (Editors, East Asia
Forum 2017; US-China Business Council 2017b).
Thus the relevance of a Chinese template will necessarily depend
on economic success, the CCP’s objective being to achieve the goal of
becoming a moderately well-off society by doubling Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) from its 2010 level to a target of per capita US$9000
by 2020. Significantly, however, the per capita target is to address social
inequality by taking millions of the population out of poverty (McCahill
2017b). In his work report at the beginning of the CCP Congress Xi
Jinping outlined a populist message, implicitly stressing public account-
ability by strengthening party discipline concerning issues like bribery,
integral to the anti-corruption campaign. In Marxist terms, Xi Jinping
stated that the greatest contradiction in Chinese society was between
unbalanced development and the people’s ever growing expectation of a
better living standard.
Thus policies to address these issues included the elimination of
poverty, better infrastructure to reduce the urban–rural divide as well
as improved education and public health (McCahill 2017a). China’s
economic strategy reflects these priorities; as the country enters a new
pattern of slower growth but faster structural change, the focus is on
increases in productivity rather than accumulation of production factors.
In short, the emphasis is on quality rather than quantity, with a stress
on capacity reduction in such areas as steel, aluminium and cement. In
contrast, a greater role is to be accorded to knowledge-intensive indus-
tries and services. Significantly, during President Trump’s visit to China
in November 2017, China’s Foreign Ministry stated that, in accordance
with the country’s own timetable, barriers to entry by foreign investors
to such sectors as banking, insurance and securities securitie would be
substantially eased, presumably to gain experience as yet inadequate in
China (Cai and Zhang 2017; US-China Business Council 2017c, d).
To further the knowledge economy the Chinese leaders face a number
of challenges related to education, healthcare, human resources, labour
law and the environment. With the cumulative effects of the now aban-
doned one-child policy, China now no longer enjoys an excess labour
dividend, and employees, whether rural migrants or city dwellers, will
need better education and retraining, making it imperative, for instance,
that compulsory education be extended from nine to twelve years,
thus ensuring better qualified human capital (Cai and Zhang 2017).
4 R. TAYLOR
References
Abbate, F., & Rosina, S. (2016). ASEAN-China Trade Growth: Facts, Factors
and Prospects. Accessed 10 Nov 2016 at www.newmandala.org/.
ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting (ASED). (2017). Accessed 18 Nov 2017
at asean.org/.
ASEAN Human Resource Management Blueprint. (2010, April 9–10). Adopted
by the CCBWG Meeting, Phnom Penh-Cambodia.
Basri, M. C. (2017). ASEAN Against the World on Trade. Accessed 30 Oct 2017
at www.east_Asia_forum.org/2017/10/29.
Berry, M. (2017). On the Eve of Trump’s Visit to China: Examining Beijing’s
Strategic Priorities, an Interview with Oriana Skylar Mastro. Accessed 8 Nov
at www.nbr.org.research/activity.Aspx?id=815.
Cai, F., & Zhang, X. J. (2017). How Can China Sustain Growth. Accessed 30
Oct 2017 at www.east_asia_forum.org/2017/10/23.
Centre for Strategic Studies, Issue 25. (2017). ASEAN and the World@ 50th
Anniversary of ASEAN and Beyond. www.rsis.edu.sg/research/cms.
DLA Piper. (2016). China Ministry of Human Resources Issues Three New
Regulations to Strengthen Enforcement of Labor Laws in 2017. www.dlapiper.
com.
Editors, East Asia Forum. (2017). Southeast Asia’s Strongmen Looking to China
as Trump Visits Asia. Accessed 6 Nov 2017 at east_asia_forum.org.
Emmers, R. (2017). ASEAN Minus X: Should This Formula Be Extended?
Accessed 24 Oct 2017 at www.google.com/mail.
Garcia-Herrero, A. (2015). China’s Outward Foreign Direct Investment.
Accessed 10 Nov 2017 at bruegel.Org/2015/06/.
Kheng, L. K. (2009). ASEAN Environmental Law, Policy and Governance:
Selected Documents (Vol. 1). Accessed 10 Nov 2017 at www.Papers.ssrn.com/
sol13/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1469388.
Kubny, J., & Voss, H. (n.d.). China’s FDI in ASEAN: Trends and Impact on Host
Countries. gdex.dk/ofdi/10/kubnyvoss.
Li, J. W., & Amer, R. (2017). Achieved in the South China Region? Accessed 26
Oct 2017 at www.worldfinancialreview.com/?p=22048.
McCahill, E. C. (2017a). China’s ‘New Era’ and Xi Jinping Thought. Accessed
25 Oct 2017 at www.nbr.org/research/activity.aspx?id.
McCahill, E. C. (2017b). The Chinese Communists’ New Politburo Standing
Committee: More Claque Than Collective Leadership. Accessed 27 Oct 2017 at
www.nbr.org/research/activity.aspx?id=813.
Norton Rose Fulbright. (2015). China’s New Healthcare Reform 2020.
Accessed 13 Nov 2017 at www.nortonrosefulbright.com/knowledge/
publications/128859.
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They left the laboratory and made their way to the elevator that would
lift them high into the Relay Station where the machine shop was
located. As they entered the elevator, Don shook his head.
"What's the matter?"
"Well, Friend Farrell is on the beam again. If he feels that we're close
to the answer, I'll bet a hat that we're hanging right on the edge. Also,
that kind of work would kill me dead. He likes to stick on one thing
until the bitter end, no matter how long it takes. I couldn't do it."
"I know. About three hours of this and you're wanting another job to
clear your mind. Then you could tackle that one for about three hours
and take back on the first."
"Trying to do that to Farrell would kill both him and the jobs," said
Don. "But you and I can keep two or three projects going strong. Oh
well, Wes is worth a million."
"He's the best we've got," agreed Walt. "Just because he has a
peculiar slant on life is no sign he's not brilliant."
"It's you and I that have the cockeyed slant on life," grinned Don.
"And frankly, I'm proud of it." He swung the elevator door aside and
they walked down the corridor. "This isn't going to be much to see,
but we'll take a look."
The machine shop, to the man, was clustered around the one cabinet
under construction. They moved aside to permit the entry of
Channing and Franks.
"Hm-m-m," said Don. "Looks like a refrigerator and incinerator
combined."
It did. It stood five feet tall, three feet square, and was sealed in front
by a heavy door. There was a place intended for the tube that Farrell
was tinkering with in the blister, and the lines to supply the power
were coiled behind the cabinet.
"Partly wired?" asked Don.
"Just the power circuits," answered Walton. "We'll have this finished
in a couple of days more. The other one is completed except for Wes
Farrell's section."
Channing nodded, and said: "Keep it going." He turned to Walt and
after the passage of a knowing glance, the pair left. "Walt, this waiting
is getting on my nerves. I want to go down to Joe's and drink myself
into a stupor which will last until they get something cogent to work
on."
"I'm with you, but what will Arden say?"
"I'm going to get Arden. Self-protection. She'd cut my feet off at the
knees if I went off on a tear without her."
"I have gathered that," grinned Walt. "You're afraid of her."
"Yeah," drawled Don. "After all—she's the cook."
"I'm waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"If and when. If you two go on as you have for another year without
one of you turning up with a black eye, I may be tempted to go forth
and track me down a dame of my own."
The cabinet stood in the north end of Venus Equilateral but it was not
alone. It may even be the record for all times; certainly no other
cabinet three by three by five ever had twenty-seven men all standing
in a circle awaiting developments. The cabinet at the south end of
Venus Equilateral was no less popular, though the number of
watchers was less by one. Here, then, were winner and runner-up of
inanimate popularity for the ages. The communicator system set in
the walls of the two rooms carried sounds from the north room to the
south, and those sounds in the south room could be heard in the
north room. Channing grinned boyishly at Arden.
"This, my love, is a device which may make it quite possible for me to
send you back to mother."
Arden smiled serenely. "No dice," she said, "Mother went back to
grandmother last week. When is this thing going to cook?"
"Directly."
"What are we waiting for?"
"Walt."
"I'm ready," came Walt's voice through the speaker.
"About time, slowpoke."
"Really, it was not his fault," objected Wes. "I wanted to check the
scanner-synchronization."
"He's precious," chortled Arden in Don's ear. "He wouldn't think of
letting Walt—the big bum—take the blame for anything that wasn't
Walt's fault."
"That's a good line," grinned Don. "Walt's faults. After we set this
thing aside as a finished project, we'll set that 'Walt's faults' to music.
Ready, Walt?"
"Right. I am now slipping the block into the cabinet. The door is
closed. Have you got the preliminary synchronizing signal in tick?"
Channing called: "Wait a minute, I'm lagging a whole cycle."
"Cut your synchronization input and let the thing catch up."
"O. K. Um-m-m—Now, Walt."
"Has anyone any last words to say?" asked Walt.
No answer.
"Then since no one has any objections at this time, I assume that
everything may be run off. Silence, people, we are going on the air!"
"There was a very faint odor of corn in Walt's last remark," said Don.
"I think the corn was on his breath," said Arden.
"Done!" announced Walt. "Don, crack the door so that the rest of us
can laugh if it don't work."
Channing swaggered over and opened the door. He reached inside
and took out the—object.
He held it up.
"Walt," said he, "what are you giving me?"
"Huh?"
"I presume that you shipped me one of the cubes?"
"Right."
"Well, what we got at this end would positively scare the right arm off
of a surrealist sculptor."
"Hang on to it—I'll be up."
"Hang on to it?" laughed Don. "I'm afraid to."
It was three miles from one end of Venus Equilateral to the other and
Walt made it in six minutes from the time he stepped into the little
runaway car to the time he came into the north-end laboratory and
looked over Channing's shoulder at the—thing—that stood on the
table.
"Um," he said. "Sort of distorted, isn't it?"
"Quite," said Don. "This is glass. It was once a three-inch cube of
precision, polish, and beauty. It is now a combination of a circular
stairway with round corners and a sort of accordion pleat. Hell's
bells!"
"Be not discouraged," gurgled Walt. "No matter what it looks like, we
did transmit matter."
Arden tapped Don on the shoulder. "May I say it now?"
"You do—!"
"Then I won't say it doesn't matter."
"I'm ignoring your crude remark. Walt, we did accomplish something.
It wasn't too good. Now let's figure out why this thing seems to have
been run over with a fourth dimensional caterpillar-tread truck."
"Well, I can hazard a guess. The synchronizing circuits were not
clamped perfectly. That gives the accordion-pleat effect. The starting
of the trace was not made at the same place each time due to
slippage. We'll have to beef up the synchronization impulse. The
circular staircase effect was probably due to phase distortion."
"Could be," said Don. "That means we have to beef up the
transmission band so it'll carry a higher frequency."
"A lower impedance with corrective elements?"
"Might work. Those will have to be matched closely. We're not
transmitting on a line, you know. It's sheer transmission-tube stuff
from here to there. Well, gang, we've had our fun. Now let's widen the
transmission band and beef up the sync. Then we'll try number two."
Terran Electric's lawyer called Wes Farrell to the stand. "Mr. Farrell,
you are employed by Venus Equilateral?"
"Yes."
"In what capacity?"
"As an experimental physicist."
"And as such, you were involved in some phases of the device under
discussion?"
"I was," said Farrell.
"Does the device make use of the Solar beam?"
"It does but—"
"Thank you," interrupted Kingman.
"I'm not through," snapped Farrell. "The Solar beam is not integral."
"It is used, though."
"It may be removed. If necessary, we can have hand-generators
supplied to generate the operating power."
"I see," said Kingman sourly. "The device itself is entirely new and
basic?"
"Not entirely. The main components are developments of existing
parts, specialized to fit the requirements."
"They are based on specifically what?"
"Certain effects noted in the power-transmission tubes plus certain
effects noted in the Solar beam tubes."
"And which of these effects is more contributory?"
"Both are about equally responsible. One will be useless without the
other."
Kingman turned to the judge. "I intend to show that the use of these
effects is stated in the contract."
"Proceed."
"Was there any time during the development of the device any
question of jurisdiction?"
"None whatever," said Farrell. "We knew how we stood."
"The statement is hearsay and prejudiced," stated Kingman.
"Strike it from the record," snapped Hamilton.
"It stands at 'none whatever,'" said Kingman.
The secretary nodded.
"Since absolutely no attention was paid to the terms of the contract,
doesn't that imply that a certain ignorance of the terms might
prevail?"
"Objection!" shouted Tinkin. "Counsel's question implies legal
carelessness on the part of his opponent."
"How can you be aware of the ramifications of a contract that you do
not read?" stormed Kingman.
"Objection overruled."
"May I take exception?" requested Tinkin.
"Exception noted. Counsel, will you rephrase your question so that no
lack of foresight is implied?"
"Certainly," smiled Kingman. "How were you certain that you were
within your rights?"
"If this plan had been open to any question, my superiors would not
have permitted me—"
"That will not serve!" snapped Kingman. "You are making an
implication—your testimony is biased."
"Naturally," barked Farrell. "No one but an idiot would claim to have
no opinion."
"Does that include the court?" asked Kingman suavely.
"Naturally not," retorted Farrell. "I was speaking of interested parties."
"Let it pass. In other words, Dr. Farrell, you were never sure that you
were within your rights?"
"I object!" exploded Tinkin. "Counsel is questioning a witness whose
business is not legal matters on a subject which is legal in every
phase."
"Objection sustained," said Hamilton wearily. The matter was
dropped, but Kingman had gained his point. The item may never
appear in the records, but it was present in the judge's mind.
"Dr. Farrell," said Kingman, "since you have no legal training,
precisely what has been your education and background?"
"I hold a few degrees in physics, one in mathematics, and also in
physical chemistry." Farrell turned to the judge. "Judge Hamilton, may
I explain my position here?"
"You may."
"I have spent thirteen years studying physics and allied sciences. I
believe that I stand fairly high among my fellows. Since no man may
be capable in many arts, I believe that I have not been lax in not
seeking degrees in law."
"No objection," said Kingman. "Dr. Farrell, in order that the process
be properly outlined in the record, I am going to ask you to explain it
in brief. How does your matter transmitter work?"
Farrell nodded, and took time to think. Tinkin whispered in Don's ear:
"The stinker! He knows Hamilton hates anything more complex than a
can opener!"
"What can we do?"
"Hope that our demonstration blasts them loose. That's our best bet,
plus fighting for every inch."
Farrell moistened his lips and said: "Utilizing certain effects noted with
earlier experimentation, we have achieved the following effects. The
matter to be transmitted is placed in situ, where it is scanned by an
atom-scanner. This tube removes the substance, atom by atom,
converting the atoms to energy. This energy is then reconverted into
atoms and stored in a matter bank as matter again. The energy of
disintegration is utilized in reintegration at the matter bank with but
small losses. Since some atoms have higher energy than others, the
matter bank's composition will depend upon the scanned substance."
"The matter bank is composed of the same elements as the matter
for transmission?" asked Kingman.
"No. Some elements release more energy than others. It is desirable
that the energy-transfer be slightly negative. That is to say that
additional energy must be used in order to make the thing work."
"Why?
"All power lines and other devices are developed for delivering
energy, not receiving it. It is less disastrous to take energy from a
power line than to try and drive it back in—and the energy must be
dissipated somehow."
"Then the matter bank is not the same material."
"No," said Farrell. "The substance of the matter bank is
nonhomogeneous. Instantaneously, it will be whatever element is
necessary to maintain the fine balance of energy—and it is in
constant change."
"Proceed," said Kingman.
"In passing from the disintegrator tube to reintegrator tube, the energy
impresses its characteristic signal on a sub-ether transmission
system. Radio might work, except that the signal is unbelievably
complex. Wired communications—"
"Objection to the term," said Kingman.
"Sustained."
"Wired ... transfer? ... might work, but probably would not due to this
same high complexity in transmitted signal. At any rate, upon
reception, the signal is used to influence, or modulate, the energy
passing from a disintegrator tube to a reintegrator tube in the
receiver. But this time the tube is tearing down the matter bank and
restoring the object. Follow?"
"I believe so. Does the Court understand?"
"This Court can follow the technical terms."
"Now, Dr. Farrell, the matter transmitter does actually transmit over a
power-transmission tube?"
"Yes. Of the type developed by us for communications."
"But it is a power tube?"
"Yes."
"Then are you certain that you are sending no energy?"
"I object!" shouted Tinkin. "The question has no answer!"
"Hasn't it?" queried Kingman. "My worthy opponent, all questions
have an answer."
"Objection overruled," snapped Hamilton sourly. "Let the witness
answer."
"It is impossible to send communications without sending some
energy. It is the intent to which the energy is put that determines the
classification."
"Explain further."
"You must send energy when you communicate with a light-blinker,"
grinned Farrell, "The receiving party receives the energy, but couldn't
possibly read a newspaper with it. The beams at Venus Equilateral
send out several million watts—and by the time they get to Luna, they
require amplifications bordering on the million-times before they are
usable. The intent is clear—we are not supplying power, we are
sending intelligence."
"I contend," said Kingman to the judge, "that the contract states
clearly that developments of this device are to be used for
communications only when operated by Venus Equilateral. I further
contend that the transmission of matter does not constitute a
communication, but rather a transfer of energy."
"I object," said Tinkin. "If this statement was objectionable to the
learned counsel before, it is equally objectionable to me now."
"Previously," said Kingman suavely, "counsel was trying to influence a
witness. I am merely trying to explain my point."
Hamilton cleared his throat. "Counsel is merely attempting to
influence the Court; the same privilege will be available to his
opponent at the proper time. That is why we have courts."
Tinkin sat down.
"I maintain that the concept of communication precludes matter
transmission," stormed Kingman. "Matter transmission becomes a
problem for the transportation companies and the power companies.
Matter, your honor, is energy. They are transmitting energy!"
He stalked over to Tinkin and smiled affably. "Cross-examination?" he
offered.
"No questions," said Tinkin.
Hamilton rapped on the bench. "Court is adjourned for ten minutes!"
"Looking for something?" asked Don. Arden turned from the window
and faced him.
"I was trying to see Niagara Falls," she smiled. "I've heard that you
could see 'em from Buffalo."
"You can," laughed her husband, "but not from this part of Buffalo.
What do you want to see Niagara Falls for, anyway? Just a lot of
water falling over a cliff at two pints to the quart."
"If you recall, chum, we went to Mars, not Niagara. There wasn't two
pints of water on the whole planet, let alone a thing like Niagara."
Don nodded. "At the risk of offending a lot of Buffalonians, I'm
beginning to dislike the place."
"It isn't the people," said Arden. "It's the position we're in. Bad, huh?"
"Not going too good at all. Kingman slips in a sly dig every now and
then. Frankly, I am getting worried. He's got a few points that really hit
very close to home. If he can sell the judge on a couple more of them,
we'll be under the sod."
"You won't be out entirely, will you?"
"Not entirely. He'll have to use the beams of Venus Equilateral to
operate, but he'll be collecting all the real gravy. We'll just be leasing
our beams to him."
"Well, don't go down without a fight, chum."
"I won't. I really hate to see Kingman get ahead of this, though." Don
stretched, took another look out across the city of Buffalo, and then
said: "We'd best be getting back. We'll be late ... he said ten minutes."
They went down the staircase slowly, and at the courtroom door they
met Keg Johnson. The latter smiled wearily. "Not too good?"
"Nope."
"Don, if you lose, then what?"
"Appeal, I guess."
"That isn't too good. Judges do not reverse lower courts unless a real
miscarriage of justice takes place."
"I know, but that's our only chance."
"What would you advise me to do?"
"Meaning?" asked Don.
"Interplanet. We'll be run right out of business if this thing goes over
to Kingman and that bunch."
"I know."
"Look, Don, have you tried living matter?"
"Plants go through with no ill effects. Microscopic life does, too.
Animals we have tried usually die because of internal disorders—but
they move while being scanned, and their bodies come out looking
rather ugly. An anaesthetized mouse went through all right—lived for
several hours. Died because the breathing-function made a
microscopic rift in the lungs, and the beating heart didn't quite meet
true. We must speed up the scanning-time to a matter of micro-
seconds and then we can send living bodies with no harm."
"That would clean out the space lines," said Keg. "I think I'll offer that
bird a slice of Interplanet for an interest, if he wins. We've got to have
it, Don."
"I know, Keg. No hard feelings."
"Of course," said Keg wistfully. "We'll be across a barrel if you win,
too. But the barrel will be less painful with you holding the handles
than if Terran Electric holds them. The same offer goes for you, too."
"O.K.," nodded Channing. He turned and entered the courtroom.
Tinkin called Don Channing to the stand as his first witness. Don
explained the function of Venus Equilateral, the job of interplanetary
communications, and their work along other lines of endeavor. Then
Tinkin said to the judge:
"I have here a glass cube, three inches on a side. This cube was
transmitted from Venus Equilateral to the Lunar Station. I offer it as
Exhibit A. It was a test-sample, and as you see, it emerged from the
test absolutely perfect."
The judge took the cube, examined it with some interest, and then set
it down on the desk.
"Now," said Tinkin, "if you do not object, I should like to present a
demonstration of the matter transmitter. May I?"
Hamilton brightened slightly. "Permission is granted."
"Thank you." Tinkin made motions and the technicians came in with
the two cabinets.
"This isn't good," said Kingman's assistant to the lawyer. "The old
goat looks interested."
"Don't worry," said Kingman. "This'll take a long time, and by the time
they get done, Hamilton will be ready to throw them out. Besides, it
will make a good arguing point for my final blast. And, brother, I've got
a talking-point that will scream for itself."
"But suppose they convince—"
"Look," smiled Kingman, "this is really no argument as to whether
matter or intelligence is carried. Believe me, that has nothing to do
with it. I'm keeping this one under the wraps until shooting-time so
they won't be able to get an argument against it. We're a cinch. That's
why I kept it in a legal court instead of a technical court. The Techs
would award it to Channing on a technical basis, but the legal boys
have got to follow my argument."
"How about an appeal?"
"The record of this court is still a very heavy argument. Look, they're
about to start."
The racket and hubbub died, and Tinkin faced the judge. "These are
plainly labeled. They are matter transmitter and matter receiver. We
have here a set of metal bars. They are made of copper, steel,
aluminum, some complex alloys, and the brother to that glass cube
you have before you. We will transmit this set of objects from here to
there. Have you any suggestions?"
"A matter of control and identity. What have you for control?"
"Nothing that is outside of our hands," smiled Tinkin. "Would you care
to send something of your own? Your gavel? Inkwell? Marked coin?
Anything?"
"I'd offer my glasses except for the fact that I can not see without
them," said Judge Hamilton.
"We wouldn't break them or damage them a bit."
"I know—that much faith I have—but I'd not see the experiment."
"A good point. Anything else?"
"My watch. It is unique enough for me." He handed over the watch,
which was quite sizable.
Tinkin inspected the watch and smiled. "Very old, isn't it? A real
collector's item, I daresay."
Hamilton beamed. "There are nine of them in the Solar System," he
said. "And I know where the other eight are."
"O.K., we'll put it on the top. I'll have to stop it, because the
movement of the balance wheel would cause a rift during
transmission."
"How about the spring tension?"