A vote against suicide
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THE ANNOUNCEMENT on Monday that there is to be a General Election on June 9 will inevitably lead to all manner of promises, née threats, from all shades of political contestants. The real issues will be blurred by what would amount to scurrilous almost libellous, remarks in any other debating forum.
In road transport terms there are specific debating points which were made before the euphoria of the hustings descended on a half-suspecting nation. They should also be considered in an atmosphere of calm.
First, there is the question of increased vehicle excise duty. Both major parties are agreed on that, if on nothing else.
Then there is the promise by the Labour party of switching traffic from road to rail. At best this could only be a ten per cent switch, which would not make any perceivable difference to the number of vehicles on the road.
There is also the Socialist promise to "renationalise" the National Freight Consortium and take into public ownership other profitable chunks of the private sector.
The freedom now enjoyed by the coach industry would disappear under Mr Foot or Mr Healey. With it would go the cost benefits which the travelling public now enjoys.
The return of a Conservative administration will not produce a panacea for the ills of overworked and underpaid transport men. Nevertheless, we believe that the alternative of nationalisation is a recipe for economic suicide.