A _Suicidal Policy
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MANY members of the Government appear to take the view that its strength, owing to the great Labour majority in Parliament, is such that, failing some calamity, the same Party is almost certain tobe returned at the next General Election. Admittedly, recent by-elections might help to maintain this opinion, but the public is a queer and unpredictable factor. The people of Britain are, perhaps, less easily swayed than in many other countries, but here, as elsewhere, there has usually been a turn of the tide. That turn has often been influenced either by world events or irritation over some strongly disapproved measure.
in this connection, we wonder whether the Cabinet has given any profound consideration to the growing tide of feeling which has been aroused by its policy of nationalizing transport, and road transport in particular, and to the way it is antagonizing very many thousands of men and women who, at the General Election, cast their votes for Labour.
The Servant of Trade Not only is road transport a huge industry in itself, but it is an essential servant of almost every other trade and business in the country. Objections to its nationalization, and particularly under such drastic and unfair terms as are put forward in_ the Transport Bill, are being raised in every quarter where business men congregate. it is more significant, however, that this spirit of revolt against the injustice and partiality of the policy as exemplified in this Bill, has spread much farther than this. Men and women in all spheres of life who have had experience of the delays and Officiousness so frequently involved in dealing with Government Departments and institutions, and who have felt the frustration which even the most simple inquiry or request often occasions, are loth to see a necessity of their daily life placed under similar conditions.
At the risk of distorting the literal truth, we say that the mass of hauliers and the large " majority of ancillary operators are "seeing red." The first cannot understarkd how any Government which professes to be the friend of the people can consider, let alone carry out, a project which beyond any doubt must bring discomfort, misery and even ruin to many thousands of eminently respectable citizens of an hitherto reasonably free country, and not only to them, but to their wives and families.
Why this Government should be intent on blasting their hopes of handing over to their sons businesses which they have built up over the course of years, usually by hard, unrelenting and . conscientious work, is obscure. Hauliers cannot understand in what manner they are assumed to have failed. They have contributed heavily to the national finances, satisfied their customers, and given great service to the public, but all this appears to them to count for naught with these rabid and inexperienced apostles of a political doctrine.
Blow to Small Trader Ancillary users and all those in trade, and ' industry who favour road transport are also appalled at the prospect of rigorous restrictions, with all the inconveniences, waste of time, hordes of officials, sheaves of forms, and the additional expense which must obviously occur. The small trader who has, hitherto, relied upon the friendly , • haulier for the transport of his goods is, perhaps; r the worst hit in this field. Through no fault of his own, his area of delivery will be automatically. curtailed to a radius of 25 miles or less, unless ha goes to the expense of buying his own means for transport, or depends upon the State "service.'
He, no doubt rightly, belives that a transport, colossus will not worry itself much about his small paCkages or give them that personal care which he could always obtain from the haulier., His eggs will be forced into the One basket, and no doubt there will be many breakages.
Now as to the men employed by the hauliers who are to be affected. On the whole, the relations between the two sides have been . friendly. To the drivers and others, the "boss" is often "Bill " or "Jack," always ready to give an ear to their troubles and grievances and to . remedy them where possible. Many haulage businesses of small and medium size are almost on a family basis, and we have every good reason to know that the votes of thousands of the men concerned and of those whom they influence will not go the same way again. A considerable number has signed the petition against the nationalization of the industry, some not at public meetings, but on more private occasions.
Many of those who would be affected do not relish the prospect of working for what would be. in effect, a cold, calculating and unfeeling machine in which all individualism and personality would be lost, and with no opportunity of being able to change their employment, however aggrieved they may feel. They will be walking and working in a shadow, with none of that cheerfulness which marks the "get-togethers" and other social events common to the present system. They will experience none of that feeling of satisfaction which the good employee enjoys when he has found another customer and receives personal thanks, and, usually, some more solid recognition. He will be a servant of the State, not, as he is now, virtually an agent of the concern which employs him, but an automaton controlled by clocks and inspectors. What a prospect for a man who has hitherto, when away from his depot, been almost his own boss and able, in a considerable measure, to use his discretion.
We know that already many Labour Members of Parliament have grave doubts as to the advisability of proceeding with this filching of transport. They are afraid. however, openly to express such opinions, although some do so privately. They sympathize, but fear the Party machine: consequently, the more vociferous and bigoted Members of Parliament are allowed to convey the impression of unity. The Party is, however, more shaken on this matter than appears on the surface. Many Members have received personal visits and postal communications, not only from those in the industry who will be immediately affected, but from other quarters.
We therefore stress the urgency of greatly emphasizing persuasion in these directions. Every Socialist Member of Parliament should. and must be, swamped with forcible and cogent protests from all who value freedom and justice. They should be told in no uncertain terms that every protest means at least one and probably many votes permanently lost to Labour if this Bill of expropriation be carried into effect.
The editor of every newspaper and periodical in the country should at once receive communications expressing similar views. Numerous indoor meetings against nationalization have been organ-. ized and have proved to the satisfaction of all who attended them that, in every instance, the voting was overwhelmingly against the Government's policy. This movement is, however, not sufficient.
Let there be meetings in the open—great gatherings which will attract thousands who would not attend in halls. Let huge demonstrations be staged in Trafalgar Square and appropriate centres elsewhere, and powerfully worded resolutions sent by envoys to Downing Street; but let it be remembered that such public meetings are illegal within a distance of, we believe, one mile from Parliament while it is sitting.
The sands of time during which the main battle must be fought are rSpidly running out_ Urgency must be the keynote; the laggard and the confirmed optimist may be too late to register a protest. It is vital that the Government should be brought to realize that it is on the brink of a precipice, that its reputation amongst those who at present remain its followers may well be a bubble which it can itself easily burst. Its majority in votes, even during the full tide of a wished-for change—in many cases merely for change's sake—was out of all proportion to its majority in Members in the House, and if, in the judgment of the people, it acts unwisely and harshly, then the ebb will quickly follow.
This is not simply a matter of politics, but of British justice, fairplay, and the ultimate interest of the Nation. The failure of this grandiloquent Government transport system after trial would cause incalculable and irretrievable harm. Why should our people be faced with this totally unnecessary and risky experiment at a time when many other difficulties are being faced?