Tory spokesman slams
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ports nationalization by John Darker LIU TWO DAYS before port authorities are due to receive a letter from Mr Fred MuIley, Minister of Transport, outlining the Government's proposals for the port industry, expected to involve a State takeover, Mr Eldon Griffiths MP, an Opposition spokesman on industry, has bitterly attacked the plan.
"The announcement of this new State grab will do nothing to help and a great deal to hinder both the ports and the shipping industry. It is a further blow to confidence which the Conservative Party will oppose as irrelevant, expensive and unnecessary," he said.
Mr Griffiths had apparently had sight of Mr MuHey's letter for he claimed that the new policy called for all cargo ports on the coast and estuaries to be nationalized "and a huge new national port authority will be responsible for licensing their activities and masterminding their investments.
"It will also enforce the dock labour scheme, virtually handing over control to the Transport and General Workers' Union."
Mr Griffiths claimed that the new monopoly owner of ports would be the State "though which of its various agencies will take command remains to be settled". Five questions were posed by Mr Griffiths as needing clarification. What would the plan cost? What was the basis for compensation to existing owners? what was to happen to the fishing industry and recreational sailing? Who would run the stevedoring companies without which the ports could not operate? To whom would the assets of the nationalized ports be transferred?