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Keep Our Hard-won Freedom

25th May 1945, Page 15
25th May 1945
Page 15
Page 16
Page 15, 25th May 1945 — Keep Our Hard-won Freedom
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

AFTER years of toil, great expenditure of life and limb and the facing of terrible dangers by the civilian population, the Nation has experienced the intense gratification of seeing our principal enemy brought to his knees, whilst there is some hope of a reasonably early conclusion of the war in the East.

We have been fighting not only for our own freedom, but for the peoples of other countries who set great value by this ideal as well as for the liberty of the individual. Our real and fundamental enemies have been, and remain; National Socialism and Fascism, much the same in practice and both aiming at the complete subservience of personality. They are, in essence, intense forms of bureaucratic control, quite apart from such figureheads as Hitler and Mussolini—they and their immediate satellites were merely the scum on the surface.

Despite all our gigantic efforts, we are, however, in grave danger of drifting into a system of national control, which, so far as the individual is concerned, closely resembles the very policies for which we have already made so many sacrifices and expended so much of our national. wealth to combat.

War Subjugates Democratic Ideals It is unfortunate that, during a period of war, individualistic aims and ideals must, to a large degree, be repressed; everything must be controlled and directed towards the one supreme object—the attainment of victory. In this respect, our antagonists were well in advance of ourselves, and, consequently, for a long time, benefited accordingly. Most of us had to be pawns in a huge game, and whether in civilian• life or in the Services, moved as strategic conditions warranted. This, together with many other restrictions and inconveniences, was accepted with good grace, if not exactly with enthusiasm, but who amongst us did not long ardently for the return of that freedom which was our hard-won heritage?

When peace returns, shall we be prepared to relinquish our rights and allow ourselves to become slaves to some other form of national control which, in fact, if not in name, may be closely allied to National Socialism? Are we to become merely cogs in some huge and complicated machine with all its incubus of forms, officials and regulations, and that suppression of personal endeavour which is their natural concomitant? If this is what we have been fighting for, then millions of us will be greatly disillusioned and feel that we have jumped from the frying pan into the fire.

It is claimed in some quarters that only by such means can the individual gain security, but a prisoner in this -country can be said to be secure, in that he is fed and clothed, and by good behaviour is able slightly to improve his living conditions and status.

.Retain Our Spirit of Independence The British as a race did not win their premier place ...in the world by seeking security. Our explorers, pioneers and merchant adventurers won for us lands, fame and trade, upon which our Empire has been built—no pawns these, but men and women of spirit and determination unhampered by rigorous controls and subservience to officialdom.

Many of our politicians in all Parties appear to have become imbued with the idea that trade and industry in many, or nearly all, its multitudinous forms would benefit by complete or partial control by the State. The Labour Party is going all out for a policy involving nationalization of businesses employing millions of our workers. There are not wanting signs, too, that members of other Parties are tainted with views akin to this, some being apparently convinced that because national control proves beneficial in war-time, it should have the same effect in the days of peace.

Far too many people are taking little interest in this matter and are inclined to regard such fears as being merely bogys. Others are prepared to place their confidence in various organizations and the officials connected with them, not wishing to disturb their own equanimity and merely hoping that all will come right in the end. If they do not bestir themselves, individually as well as in their masses, and state their own opinions most definitely, they may soon be confronted with a situation that is not at all to their liking, and it may then be too late to take any action. A General Election may come at almost any time, and all those who value freedom should queStion their Parliamentary candidates as to their intentions. According to a pamphlet recently issued by the Conservative Party, one of the 12 points of the policy outlined is that of giving the fullest opportunity to individual initiative. Another is the protection of the independent business against any abuse of monopoly. It is not, however, sufficient to take these for granted; each candidate should be challenged on this matter. Nationalization, as put into practice, is often an elastic measure and may take the form of huge " boards" or other financial and operating schemes for control, which are little more than camouflage covering the steps in the direction of full expropriation. The State is not a good "businessman." It is inelastic and cannot easily and readily adapt its huge machine to sudden changes in supply or demand; complaints float rightly from one official to another, although if and when any credit becomes due, there are hosts willing to accept it. The efficiency of an industry or trade can well be gauged by the results it obtains and the satisfaction of the " consumers " affected. In these respects, road transport is eminently satisfactory. On the haulage side it makes reasonable but not excessive profits and provides an all-round service which is greatly appreciated, whilst its rates are automatically controlled to economic levels by the virtual competition of C-licensed vehicles—if a "consumer " finds that it pays him better to do so, he can run his own transport. The case of the passenger-transport side is somewhat different, but here fares are strictly &introlled, whilst no one can deny that, taken as a whole, the public is excellently served by the'companies concerned. These have displayed miracles of organization and adaptability during this war. In most iastances smaller !fleets of ageing vehicles have been maintained at a high degree of mechanical and operating efficiency, and despite most trying conditions, such as the blackout, have carried far more people than in pre-war days. Beware of That Basic Date CEW of the readers of this journal are in the fortunate position of the many thousands of the population of these islands who will, on June 1, joyfully take to the roads again in their private cars, newly resurrected from a limbo of some five-years' duration. The drivers of commercial vehicles, both goods and passenger, have been at the wheel throughout that period. Many of them, during the blitz, have shown a determination to do their jobs in the face of danger, and have behaved with a heroism which has hardly been surpassed even on the battlefields. The tale of how the " road " carried on has not yet been told: it may never be. It does not necessarily follow, hcrWever, that none of them' will need the warning to take care— much greater care than they have taken of late— when driving on the roads after June 1. The advice to. heavy-vehicle drivers must be of a kind differing from that which is being issued to the owners of these newly resurrected motorcars. The latter have not. driven for years: the feel of the controls, especially that of the steering wheel, will be strange, unaccustomed; their reflexes will be slow, their reactions in moments of emergency hardly so swift as of yore. The warning to them is to go slowly at first, until that pre-war habitude to the driving of a swift-moving vehicle returns. Our readers should bear in mind that there are nearly always two parties to a motor accident; they must have consideration for these " neophites," as they are, in effect; give them a wide berth, and show tolerance when their behaviour appears to be sub-standard. The commercial-vehicle men must also realize that the roads, after the ." basic " date, will not be so wide open and free from traffic as they have been for the past five years; they may now expect cars to come popping out from those side roads which, for so long, have been practically " untrod " by wheels: In short, they must therefore pay more attention then to the rules of driving and remember always that there may, after. all, be someone just around the next corner.


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