That was quite a year
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"WHAT did you make of 1984, then?" asked IVIaggie's brother Cromwell.
Sensing one of Cromwell's traps I replied cautiously, "A non-event. Nicholas Ridley. ...
"That's not a very polite description of one of Her Majesty's Ministers," interrupted Cromwell. "Where road haulage is concerned you may have a point, but I doubt whether the bus industry would agree with you."
"I was referring to the fact that Mr Ridley has remained in office for the complete year," I said. "1983 saw three Secretaries of State for Transport — Howell, King and then Ridley. Against that background, the term nonevent is a compliment.
"Then it's about the only compliment Mr Ridley has received this year. His proposals for passenger transport have hardly had a good reception even from those politicians who might be expected to support him. And his civil aviation initiatives are in ruins. He backed the wrong side in the battle between British Caledonian and British Airways over their market shares. And he made a complete mess of BA's attempts to lower their Atlantic air fares" "But he has left road hauliers' affairs in the hands of Lynda Chalker," I pointed out.
Cromwell smiled. "That doesn't seem to have done the industry much good. She hasn't prevented Nigel Lawson from stinging the industry with higher taxes. And there's even more to come next year."
"You have a hot line to the Treasury?" I asked with heavy sarcasm.
"No, but I read the technical press whose pages you grace from time to time. It is clear that, at the very least, there will be an inflation-linked increase. And although the Chancellor has assumed only three per cent inflation when increasing overseas aid, I suspect he'll be a bit more pessimistic where Road Fund and fuel taxes are concerned."
As usual when in difficulties I tried to change the subject. "Well, the new 0-licensing rules about operating centres have turned out to be a nonevent."
"So far. But give them time. Local residents have already had a few victories. My guess is that the news will get around and encourage more and more of them to try it on."
"Let's stop guessing what might happen next year and look instead at what did happen," I suggested. "How do you rate 1984?"
"An interesting year," said Cromwell. "Lots of new problems were added to all the old ones, none of which got solved."
"And the biggest new problem?" 1 asked.
"Probably the increasing frequency of lorry blockades."
"But surely these are an understandable response to the frustrations experienced by hauliers and their drivers," I said.
"Yes. But they are bound to harm the industry as a whole. Just look at the hardships and losses suffered by British hauliers over last winter's Mont Blanc blockade."
Here I felt able to tackle Cromwell head-on. "I disagree. In my opinion the troubles at Mont Blanc did a lot for the industry."
"Such as?" asked Cromwell.
"Well for one thing they forced the Italians to do something about the delays at their frontiers. Second, by drawing the British public's attention to the problems it attracted sympathy for lorry drivers trapped in the snow. Third, it demonstrated the importance of international haulage to a trading nation like Britain. Will that list do to be going on with?"
"It would do admirably if even one of the points had any substance. But, alas, that is not so. For example, if you think that Italian Customs officers are more diligent and less strikeprone or corrupt than before the blockade you haven't spoken to any drivers who have made the trip recently.
"As for the British public's sympathy with the drivers' plight, that existed only because the roads blocked were French.
"As for public perception of the importance of international haulage, let me draw your attention to the dock strikes. Lorries were prevented from embarking on ro-ro ferries, and were forced to line up for days on one carriageway of the M20, while private cars sailed happily to and fro. If you heard any motorist say that this was lunacy for a trading nation like Britain your hearing is more acute than anyone else's. On the contrary, most expressed pleasure at the absence of the hated 'juggernauts'.
"Finally, if you really believe that sympathy flows from blockades you should have heard what the great British public said when students blocked Westminster Bridge in the rush hour last month."
I tried to make a comeback against this onslaught. "On the other hand, the public has admired the courage of lorry drivers carrying coal to steelworks, and coach drivers carrying working miners across striking miners' picket lines."
"That proves my point," said Cromwell. "The public attitude is conditioned by dislike of disruption, not by the merits of the group causing the disruption."
"Well, at least the miners' strike has demonstrated that the road haulage industry enjoys relatively good industrial relations," I said.
"Certainly we have been denied the sight of Bert Neely going into union negotations with a carrier bag over his head. But then the Road Haulage Assocation is not run by 'an elderly imported American', to quote the Bishop of Durham."
"It goes much further than that," I said. "The Reads' case against the Transport and General Workers' Union was supported by their drivers. This is an encouraging contrast with the attitude of the train drivers' union."
."Yes, but not as encouraging as the fact the the whole industry supported the Reads. And not only with declarations of support but with actual money. At the RHA conference this year George Read stood up and publicly thanked the RHA. You would have poured scorn on me if, during our conversation at this time last year, I had predicted such solidarity."
"Well, you didn't predict it," I said, and felt that for once I had had the last word.