Lords Begin Committee Stage on the Bill O N Monday, the
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first day of the Committee stage of the Transport Bill in the House of Lords, 33 amendments were considered. Altogether, 400 amendments have been put down, of which about 100 have been sponsored by the Government and 300 by the Opposition.
The first amendment accepted was one by the Government, increasing the size of the Transport Commission to a maximum of eight members. The chairman and four members will be full-time administrators.
Lord Balfour of Burleigh made a strong attack on the Bill, and mentioned three dangers inherent in any State transport system.
The first, he said, was that because of the absence of competition the public service would descend into lethargy and stagnation. The second was that the door woul-I be opened to political jobbery, and the third that centralization. would have a most maleficent effect on the human relations with the staff and efficiency ot the services.
What is the Motive?
The Marquess of Salisbury supported Lord Balfour. "Why are the Government bringing in this legislation?" he asked. "What is the real motive behind the nationalization of inland transport? . . In our view the State ownership is bound to lead this great transport industry into the maelstrom of political controversy, which will be fatal to its efficiency. The Minister and the Government will be subject to perpetual political pressure."
Continuing, Lord Salisbury stated that co-ordination, not ownership, was the fundamental problem He expressed . the opinion that the Minister would be heavily overweighted with responsibility and become a political Aunt Sally..
Government Case
For the Government, Viscount Addison declared that it was necessary to consolidate all forms of transport. _ The railway companies took this view, he said, as they themselves had acquired great road transport services. Control of transport was not possible without ownership, he declared.
Lord Addison referred to the great development in C-licence transport and alleged that the reason for this was that traders were not satisfied with the services otherwise available. He expressed the hope that the Bill would make for good development and management, so that traders would be glad to make use of the public transport service, instead of buying vehicles of their own. An amendment to increase the size of the British Transport Commission from four to not more than nine members, including the chairman, was put by Lord Beveridge. As the Bill stood, he said, the number of members was smaller than is common to any business concern, and if the Commission were to be regarded as a business body, five executives were insufficient.
Lord Teynham thought that the number of members should be increased to 10. He suggested that it would be impossible to combine in a "Big Five" members who would have a wide experience of transport, industrial, commercial and financial matters, in admin-• istration and the organization of workers, as required by the Bill.
Commission Increased
Replying to these points, Lord Addison suggested that there should be eight members on the Commission besides the chairman. Lord Beveridge and Lord Teynham withdrew their amendments and Lord Addison's amendment was agreed to.
In Clause 2 the following proviso dealing with powers to manufacture was inserted:— " PrOvided that notwithstanding anything in this subr-toion or in any subsequent provisioja of this Act, or in any scheme, order or regulations made under any such provision, the Commission shall not have power either directly or indirectly:—
" (a) to construct or manufacture anything which is not required either for use for the purpose of their undertaking or for the fulfilment of a contract made, before the acquisition by the Commission of the undertaking or part of an undertaking, by the person theretofore carrying it on."
Lord Brabazon pointed out to the House the omission from the Bill of powers to be granted to the B.T.C. to make chassis as distinct from bodies, and wished for such authorization to be granted. Lord Woolton gave support. Lord Addison then referred to the amendment which resulted in the insertion already quoted, and Lord Brabazon later withdrew his amendment to provide the B.T.C. with Powers to build chassis.
Lord Brabazon criticized the Clause put in by the Minister which would limit the number of vehicles to be manufactured by any undertaking acquired by the Commission to the number produced in the year previous to the passing of the Bill.
Lord Hacking also dealt with this limitation and referred particularly to the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd. There could be no expansion of a factory and no export trade. His alternative was to give freedom to the manufacturer, whilst Lord Gifford thought that any undertaking acquired by accident should be sold.
Railway Influence
Lord Liacas of Chilworth spoke of his amendments, which referred to ancillary activities run by haulage contractors. His information was that 58 per cent, of operators with 10 vehicles and over engaged in selling vehicles and spares and petrol and oil. He stated that some of the largest retail distributive concerns in the motor trade were owned by the railway companies. He suggested that it was not the intention of the Commission to bring those concerns in under the Bill.
Viscount Maugham was also concerned on this point and wanted clarification of the scope of the proposed activities of the B.T.C.
Transport First
Viscount Swinton referred to the great ramifications of the State transport undertaking. If the B.T.C. were to increase its activities by the manufacture of products and the retailing of various items, it would never get on with the job of transport.
The Government amendment having been agreed to by the House, Viscount Simon expressed doubt as to whether the words inserted in the subsection would agree with the remainder of the Bill. It seemed, at first sight, as if there were something inconsistent, he said.
In reply, Viscount Addison stated that he would look into the matter, but he was advised that the new wording tidied up the proviso.