Brinkmanship
Page 4
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Last Friday in these columns we called on Prices Secretary Roy Hattersley to break his silence on his decision to make an Order in Council to freeze haulage rates. Later the same day CM's editor offered Mr Hattersley the same advice on the BBC Radio 4 programme Going Places.
On the same programme Mr Hattersley's Front Bench colleague John Horam said that the Prices Secretary had not yet come to a decision. Within three hours of that broadcast he announced that there would be no freeze order.
Has it to be assumed that Hattersley knew, but had not told Horam? Was it CM's voice added to the persistent plea of the R HA that finally made up the ministerial mind? Was it perhaps political brinkmanship of the worst possible kind — it was a delay which caused unnecessary hardship and acrimony. Even now employers must beware and act speedily on rates increases. Mr Hattersley qualified his "thaw" by saying: It would not be appropriate at this time to make an Order in Council."
How soon will it be appropriate? The Prices Commission can still act and our advice to hauliers is to increase rates with haste, taking the opportunity of explaining to both customers and the nation that the increase will not increase the cost of consumer goods by a fraction of one penny per pound. Early, strident and persistent publicity on this matter will counter the inevitable claims that any rise in the cost of living index is the result of the haulage pay settlement.