Industry Answers the Minister
Page 35
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, T HE Government, as represented by the -Minister of Transport, must have had a someWhat unpleasant shock at the cold reception accorded to its road-transport policy when this was put forward by Mr. Pybus at the annual dinner of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
In this case, Of course, the meeting was composed mainly of those actually concerned in the road-transpert industry on the inanti fact uring and selling sides, but the almost general condemnation of the Salter Conference Report and the manner in which the value of road transport to the general manufacturer and trader has been emphasized must have gone far towards indicating to our legislators the grave risks which they will be incurring in imposing any further restriction upon an industry which is of such vital importance to the prosperity of the nation. This is not the time for curtailing the country's productiveness.
It is our firm opinion that whilst it may be possible to impede road transport for a time, yet it has 'assumed such a magnitude and has gained such a hold upon industry and the general public of this country that no barriers raised against it can eventually prove effective. It is like a shackled giant who, as he gains strength, will burst his gyves.
Already more people are dependent upon road transport for their livelihood than those similarly situated in respect of the railway's, whilst the total turnover of the passenger and goOds branches greatly exceeds that of the • railways.
It is not going too far to say that at a General Election hundreds of thousands of voters are certain to be influenced to a considerable degree by the attitude of any Government towards a transport system which is so generally favoured.
We have received appeals from highly placed railway officials suggesting that we should adopt what they term a "more fairminded attitude towards the railways," but if such an attitude means that we are to stand by and say nothing while more and more restrictions are placed upon goods and passenger vehicles, then the appeals must cer7 tainly • fail. The railways can gain our sympathy only if they adopt the policy of live and let live.
They will, almost undoubtedly, become more and more important as operators of road vehicles,and this being • the case, it does not seem a wise policy for them to endeavour unduly to restrict the activities of road transport. It is far easier to push a person into a morass than to rescue him from it. Legal fetters are more readily forged • than broken, and if the railways are to be such big users of road transport they may well find that their political and other activities have produced a boomerang effect.