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Words spoken nothing said
Page 48
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THE "new" Transport Minister, Bill Rodgers made one of his infrequent public appearances last week at the CIT lunch. There they were, top men from the industry ready to hang on to every word. Waiting for his words of wisdom, waiting for some indication of how the DePartment of Transport and legislation would develop, waiting in fact to hear anything.
They had hoped he would say something but did they
• really want to know who he had gone to school with or even that 23 years ago on a Berkshire station he had met Sir Reginald Wilson? They already knew that Sir Daniel Pettit had played for Britain at football in the 1934 Olympics. (Mr. Rodgers said England.) He also said "If I don't make a long speech I hope you will understand that I have to be elsewhere very soon." Indeed he didn't make a long speech.
Truth to tell once more he didn't make any speech. He did apologise or rather excused himself by saying "Whatever I do, if I do anything, it will be wrong." Well, there's one sure way of not making a mistake and that is by doing or saying nothing.
Indeed he told the assembly that he kept quiet because he felt he could not win. Perhaps he was inhibited because he keeps receiving letters which start "Dear Bill, You won't
remember me." The question which troubled the minds of many of those present was, will he remember us? Why doesn't the Transport Minister say something, even if it's only goodbye?
Last week for example at a press conference CM asked him "As a pro-European where do you stand on the tachograph issue?" According to our reporter he disappeared behind a handful of peanuts and his answer was incoherent.