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Transport and Government

22nd April 1949, Page 1
22nd April 1949
Page 1
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Page 1, 22nd April 1949 — Transport and Government
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

THE amazing recovery or the anti-socialist ele ments, shown by the results of the recent municipal elections, may be accepted by some people as a sign that the power of the• Socialists in this country is on the wane. Whether they be correct or not in this assumption remains to be seen, for a great deal may happen before the next "General Election. On that occasion we may not have the Chancellor of the Exchequer dropping a bombshell into the comparatively placid waters of the Socialist pool. Whatever happens there• will probably be a close fight, and it may be that if the result be fairly even, a few Liberals will find themselves in the position of bolding the balance.

Let us assume, however; for the sake of argument, that there will be forthcoming a Government which is definitely opposed to nationalization. In that case, what is likely to happen?

• Can Nationalization be Reversed?

Some speakers on the Conservative side have been touring the country and announcing that if the• Conservative Party returns to power nationalization will be put into reverse, and it has even been said that road haulage will be entirely freed.

• We would like to have further information upon this most interesting matter. It is easy enough to make a general statement, but how is such a vague promise to be carried out? The unscrambling of an egg is virtually an impossibility, particularly if the egg in question has been half eaten. It really becomes a question of how much can be saved, or what alleviations can be given.

Small operators who have been bought out can hardly be expected to refund the money, especially as many of them may have spent it upon other activities and by that time be looking upon their haulage businesses as things of the past. With larger concerns, compensated by means of script, there might be less difficulty, but even with these the changes have been so complete that a return to the status quo would be difficult, to say the least. In the public passenger transport field, in which State acquisition has not as yet gone so far, the problem might be less complicated, but, even here, restitution may depend upon how effective the State ownership becomes before the date of the Election. It may be that the Conservative Party has some special procedure in mind and, possibly, it may not want to divulge details of this. If, however, it has no real programme to follow in this matter of State versus private ownership, then it is unwise for its members to hold out vague promises, the fulfilment of which may prove to be an impossibility.

Whatever be done, some method will have to be found to reduce the antagonism between road and rail, and this must not be by reducing the efficiency and service rendered by road transport in order to bolster up a system which is virtually obsolescent. We believe that it would be .preferable to subsidize the railways from the national exchequer rather than to penalize a system which has proved itself to be capable of giving great service to trade and industry—and this without involving any loss. Encouragement must be given to the efficient, not to the inefficient. One must not be dragged down to the level of the other, for if that were to be done, trade, industry and the public would suffer. In the goods-carrying field a change of Government might well mean an increase in the operating radius of the free haulier. It is difficult to envisage much more that could be done in. this direction. At least such a procedure would obviate the tremendous congegtion that is almost bound to occur in this limited field if the radius remains at its present figure.

What Future for the B.T.C.?

In the arena of long-distance transport by road, we are faced with what is becoming a most complete organization divided and sub-divided to cover large and small units. In its ranks are to be found many trstwhile members of the industry as it was. Is all this to collapse if the Transport Act be repealed? To be quite frank, we cannot visualize the position if such an event takes place. It would no doubt be possible to revert to some system of boards, but that would not be private enterprise in the true meaning of the words. We have little doubt, therefore, that something resembling the present set-up would have to be retained, although if an increase in the radius of the free haulier were to be granted, much of its power would be lost. It might, therefore, be considerably reduced in size and cost.

As it is upon this problem of nationalization that the Conservative Party may gain or lose strength, it is important that something more than vague generalizations should-be announced. Possibly some scheme exists; if not, the less said about the matter for the time being the better. Transport in all its forms is so important to the Nation and to the public that the industry as a whole should have a voice in its future.

Area Schemes : Danger Diminished

HARDENING of the attitude of local authorities towards the nationalization of road passenger transport may be expected to follow the signal success of anti-Socialists in the recent municipal elections. Operators who have been considering the desirability of selling out to the British Transport Commission, in the belief that their ultimate absorption into the State transport network was inevitable, have been given cause to think again. They should take courage from the results of the elections.

Municipal opinion, is important in the preparation of area schemes, for under the Transport Act, all local authorities in the area of a proposed scheme must be consulted. A united stand by municipalities might well cause the abandonment of a scheme. Now that the Socialists have lost so many seats on councils, the prospects of successful opposition are much increased.

Some of the Socialist-controlled councils have agreed, subject to certain safeguards, to sacrifice their transport undertakings to the State. These decisions are purely political and take no account of the interests of the public. The councillors who have spoken in favour of nationalization have done so in obedience to the party line, and have probably assuaged their consciences with the thought that their electors endorsed that policy with their original votes. The Government has claimed—and councillors have echoed the master's cry—that nationalization is the will of the people. In fact, the elections havc shown that there is a large " floating " vote, which is cast on prejudice or emotion, and varies with tkle impact of immediate and often unrelated events on the individual. Few political beliefs are based on reason and information, and only a small proportion of those who, since the war, have voted for Socialism can have realized that, in doing so, they might be giving away the benefits of the existing supremely efficient and cheap road transport system.

Most people are concerned only with living-as well as possible. Their " will " is directed towards the ordinary human aspirations of comfort and security; political juggling has no place in their lives. Councillors who claim to give expression to the will of the people cannot, therefore, support any action that may increase the cost of living or deprive the public of valuable contact with the providers of its bus services, because they would otherwise be removing aids to the comfort and security of the individual.

Bought—and "Sold 11 THERE is a growing opinion that the British Transport Commission is trying to complete the acquisition of haulage undertakings too quickly. Hauliers whose businesses have been taken over and who are still waiting for a preliminary payment after two months or more have reached the conclusion that the rate of nationalization is too great for the Commission's accountancy branch.

Pressure of work on the staff of the B.T.C. is undoubtedly heavy, but if it cannot arrange to pay more promptly for businesses absorbed, the Commission should defer acquisition. In its approach to other problems, the B.T.C. has been businesslike, but this delay in settlement has more the imprint of the Civil Service than of a commercial organization.


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