"Nationalize Motor Industry"
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ONLY nationalization would make the motor industry really efficient and able to compete with foreign manufacturers, said Mr. Maurice Edelman (Lab., Coventry North) in the House of Commons last Friday, when a motion urging that an inquiry into the industry be held was discussed.
He hoped that when Labour returned lo power direct action in connection with the Motor industry would be considered. It might not be desirable to nationalize the whole of it, but he would recommend taking over one important factory and making it into a pilot plant for the whole industry.
"One has naturally in mind as a national candidate for such .a distinction the Standard motor works in Coventry," said Mr. Edelman. " I believe that in such a factory we could have an example of nationalized works setting the tenor and establishing standards . . for the whole industry," he added.
Introducing the motion, Mr. James Johnson (Lab., Rugby) elaborated on the alleged shortcomings of private-car makers' efforts in the export market, but praised commercial-vehicle manufacturers.
"We have a technical mastery there which is not so with our passenger cars," he said. " It is alively industry. Why is it that the commercial vehicles are so lively,, competitive and popular as opposed to our passenger cars? " he asked.
Mr, Charles Pannell (Lab., Leeds West) pleaded for heavy .capital expenditure for roads. Better highways were needed to provide for an expansion of the home market. " The existing roads are an indictment of our economy," he stated. "When we survey Britain's roads, we cannot call ourselves a modern industrial nation."
A contention that the industry's expansion plans were excessive was put forward by Mr. W. Shepherd (Cons., Cheadle). "1 would say that too hot a pace has been set," he asserted. " I say that because, as a result of competition between the American and British elements, we have had what has been a reckless programme of expansion."
He thought that various companies ought to discuss with each other the measure of future demand and try to relate their expansion to it.
Mr. F. J. Erroll, Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, rejected the idea of an inquiry. The industry already had a vigorous national advisory council DIRECT SNOWPLOUGH MOUNTING rl•
A ROTARY .snowplough may be
fitted to the new Ferguson FF-35 tractor without a special loader assembly, as was necessary with previous Ferguson tractors. The snowplough unit and ancillary Coventry Victor aircooled engine may be mounted directly on the loader beams.
B. S. Bird and Co., Ltd., Ferguson distributors in Gloucester, have delivered a tractor with snowplough attachment to Gloucester County Council. The plough, made by the British Rotary Snow Plough Co., Ltd., has adjustable skid runners. It can handle snow at the rate of 2-4 tons per minute.