NEW THREATS
Page 62
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pUBLIC opinion remains something of a mystery in spite of its importance. A Government or a political party has to know or guess what people are thinking, but there is no infallible method of finding it out in time for the information to be of any use. No sooner does a public point of view become clear than it tends to lose lustre and significance, like a fish out of water. Road operators may soon realize the truth of this when they come to learn in more detail about the Government's plans for the transport industry.
The result of the General Election at last made clear even to the Socialists that hardly anybody wanted national • ization, least of all nationalization of road haulage. Once this had been established at the polls, hauliers breathed a sigh of relief, and may even have supposed that public opinion was permanently in their favour and that they need worry no more about it—except possibly until the next Election came round. It would be a serious error to remain in this state of euphoria for very long.
Having once shown their hand on the subject of nationalization, the public do not give it another thought in the context of transport. They have turned their attention to other matters such as traffic congestion, where the road operator may not automatically expect approval and may even encounter active dislike. Evidence of what people are thinking may be found, in the Press and even more so in what is being said by M.P.s, who like to claim that they are speaking for their constituents. _
The shift of public opinion, when it is in process of settling into some new mould, may be detected not so much in the set speeches of politicians as in their remarks off the cuff and off the record.. They are feeling their way, and are careful to make no statement that cannot be contradicted or modified if it arouses too much opposition. If it is true that politicians lead the people, this does not necessarily mean that they actually give the lead themselves without a good deal of prompting. They are adept at appearing as the incarnation of the public will. Their skill, backed by their party organization, lies in detecting the right trend at the earliest possible moment and incorporating that trend into their own policy.
Socialists' Handicap
One of the handicaps of the Socialists has been that, although well aware of the growing dislike of nationalization, they have been unable to modify their too rigid party policy so as to accommodate the new development. They may be forced to do something about it. Very soon, if the politicians are any judge, the public, having already made up their minds privately on the matter, will make it clear beyond a doubt that the long wrangle about ownership of industries has come to an end, and that one must roughly speaking accept the position as it now stands.
The next step will be a demand that the nationalized undertakings should be made to pay their way and to contribute to the Exchequer instead of taking money out of it. The Government have already guessed that this is the way in which the public mind will work, and their plans to deal with the new situation will soon be reflected in Parliamentary debates and ultimately in legislation. Undoubtedly the Opposition will follow suit as soon as they can clear up their internal dissensions.
Road operators may have seen the danger coming for a lonr; time. They are right to be apprehensive. The tt28 Conservative party showed no particular affection for them before the threat of nationalization became serious, and may no longer do so now that the threat has receded. To forestall the accusation that they are over-fond of road transport under free enterprise, they may even be prepared to appear harsh.
On the level of political opportunism, the Conservatives have much more reason to be kind towards the British Transport Commission. On the strength of a far from encouraging prospectus drawn up by the Commission themselves, the Government have put up a large sum of money and are continually adding to it. They have chosen to treat the railways as indispensable. In the end the money may be put to no good use and produce no return. For the sake of their credit the Government will do as much as they dare to prevent this from happening, or will do their best to disguise the effect.
Deprived of Work
Several weapons can be used against road operators, for the most part with public approval. The nationalized industries as well as many Government departments are big users of transport. It may seem sensible to keep the work in the family and give as much as possible to the Commission. A start has been made with coal, which many people are disposed to regard as the traffic preeminently suited to the railways, For some time hauliers have alleged that they are being deprived of work as a result of agreements that the Commission have made with coal, gas and electricity undertakings, not to mention the Ministry of Supply.
On this point public opinion is sluggish. The nationalized undertakings are monopolies and the public scold them for the familiar monopoly vices of slow service, inefficiency and high charges. But it is also conceded that a monopoly may have certain advantages, including the opportunity to buy in bulk at favourable rates. This is how the transac
tions with the Commission appear to most people. Hauliers will have a hard task making the points that there may be
factors preventing a clear understanding of exactly what the railways are charging, and that time and again the railways fail to carry the coal that is offered to them, so that road transport has to be called in. .
Hauliers are beginning to wonder whether the Government are with them in this matter. They have noted that, when they seek to carry some traffics traditionally assigned
to the railways, the objectors in the traffic courts find a sympathetic listener in the Licensing Authority. There is
difficulty in obtaining information about what the Commission are charging, or a breakdown of railway finances so as to discover, for example, the real cost of carrying one ton of goods.
Whatever protests. road operators make must he in the teeth of a growing volume of public opinion, skilfully fanned to favour the railways. Among the factors said to cause road congestion are the abnormal indivisible load— another of the traffics that it is continually urged " ought " to go by rail—collection and delivery for shops in busy main roads, and large lorries in narrow streets. The owners of private cars are not above joining in the abuse, so as to cover up their own contribution to the problem. If legislation is introduced to help the railways, commercial-vehicle operators may be disconcerted to find the public indifferent to them and their protests ignored by the Government.