Dealers Fear Nationalization
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'THE Jubilee year dinner of the Motor 1 Agents Association, which took place on December 17, showed by the attitude of those present how greatly they were disturbed over the nationalization of road transport.
The president, Mr. F. G. Smith, said that the M.A.A, had made the function
a domestic occasion, selecting its guests from within the manufacturing side of the industry.
He heartily congratulated the industry on its Jubilee and the excellent shows of vehicles, etc„ which commemorated it.
The manufacturing and selling sides of the industry were bound together, and
the common interest in eadh section grew up as an integral part of the trade politi
cal structure. . Whatever the advances made by the, manufacturers, the retail trade had kept pace_ The latter employs no fewer than 125,000 peeple, to which number must
be added the ancillary repairers asso
ciated with it. Capital investment in premises amounted to £57,000,000, plus £21.000,000 for plant, equipment, and stock. The turnover in repairs, etc., for 1945 was £141,000,000; if one adds the value of the restricted vehicle sales, the total now would be about £225,000,000_ The Nation had before it a Bill to nationalize road transport, and it was his firm opinion that if the proposals in it were carried through in their present form, they would strike a serious blow at all industry. Manufacturers and transport users will be hampered at every turn.
Mr, H. L. Kenward thought the
M.A.A. should adopt " National" in its title, as it had a national and not Merely trade interest.
He was a great admirer of the app ren• ticeship scheme, There was a vital need to get young people to make things instead of talking about them.
Rather than a strong tide of nation. alization. control should be canalized into the right channels. The industry has proved that it is not only the third largest in the country, but the greatest artery of commerce.
Sir Charles Bartlett said that the keynote should be the closest possible co operation. One side of the industry could not swim and the other sink. . He hoped that the size and importance of the industry would be allowed to impress itself upon the Government, so that the Industry could pursue its own vigorous way.
Lord Lucas, in giving the toast of the chairman, rather surprised his hearers by telling Mr. Smith that he had learned his brief very well and that he knew from whom it came. The president had said that the C-licensee would receive fair treatment, and the speaker endorsed this. Following numerous interruptions and remarks about nationalization, he said these did not worry him, as he had
controlled many unruly meetings.
Replying. Mr. F G. Smith said that in the past he had worked with the then Mr. George Lucas and Mr. F. Grafton to keepthe repairing industry on its feet and to forrnulate better trading conditions. He then asked the company to drink a toast to Mr. Grafton.