The Future
Page 3
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C OME 18 months ago The Commercial Motor suggested that the post-war era of "Stale versus private ownership" in transport was almost at an end, and that the present would be seen by historians as marking a transitional period. Events since then have proved the truth of that line of thought; the question now is, can the future pattern yet be foreseen? In very broad outline, it is possible to detect the inchoate pattern of, say, five years' time. it seems not unreasonable to suggest that the over-riding influence in this coming era will be the emergence of supranational agreements on basic policy matters and the concomitant submission of national autonomy to international planning.
Just as the State became the most important post-war influence on transport, so will Europe become the prime factor for the next period of development. The influence of Europe is everywhere; it will be important even if British membership of the European Economic Community does not materialize, and all-embracing if we are within the Common Market. The pattern is there to see, using this issue as an example. Within are published three stories relating to discussions and agreements of an international level, all of which could influence some aspect of future British policy.
The day of the individual country standing alone seems largely to be past, certainly in relation to transport in Europe.