M.O.F. Sets Example for M.O.W.T,
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Co!. I. J. Llavellin Makes a Definite Promise That Ex-Service Food Traders and Caterers WM be Re-established in Business. Others, Including Hauliers, Should Receive Similar Assurances By
"Tantalus"
ONE of the most important statements as yet made by any Minister regarding the fliture of ex-Servicemen is the recent pronouncement of Col. J. J. _Lletvellin, Minister of Food. He intimated that special facilities are to be granted to ex-Servicemen, on their discharge, to re-open their old businesses for the Sale of foodstuffs. As a matter of fact, some such men already are re-established, whilst others will enjoy similar' facilities when they return to civil life. In circumstances where former premises have been destroyed or damaged by enemy action, assistance will be forthcoming to enable the individuals concerned to setup shop again.
Men who return to re-olkn food shops will have placed . to their credit 3,0,00 points for the opening of a points banking account. In the case of non-food shops, coupon banking accounts will be available according to the size and nature of the business concerned.
As matters Stand, applications for licences to open shops other than for the sale of foodstuffs are dependent upon the needs of consumers in the Particular areas. In the case of food retailers, however, there is no such qualification. Everyone will be peimitted,to recommence business in the • district• which he left. As soon as conditions permit of more consumer-goods being available,' together with a relaxation of rationing restrictions, ex-Servicemen generally will be restored to the districts in which they previously did business.
This important step in rehabilitation will affect something like 20,000 shopkeepers who had to close their businesses on joining H.M. Forces. To them the decision, indeed, . is a momentous one. In many cases they had endured hardship • and -sacrifice before achieving any degree of success in business. Then, when the call for service came they had no alternative other than to close down and to leave behind, at short notice, that which had taken yeats to build.
In itself this was quite bad enough, but, even worse, was the ever-present and haunting fear of the future. :So, for that section of the community which is affected by the announcement of the Minister of Food, life takes On an entirely new meaning. The future and its prospects can be faced -with hope and courage. In addition to setting free the prisoners of doubt and victims of despair, the plan, as Outlined by the Minister, vindicates the principleof private enterprise. It acknowledges the liberty and free, dom of the individual and accepts moral responsibility in • respect of ex-Servicemen. These Tatter 'not only will be able to pick up •the broken. threads of life, but they will be assisted materially so to-do by at least one Government Departrant.
Precedent Which Should be Followed
• So far only one fortunate section of the vast numbers of serving men is affected by the decision. Is there any logiCal reason why those men not in the " retailer" category but who, nevertheless, had to close down and now are assailed by fear and apprehension, should not be , :similarly treated? For example there are numerous hauliers serving with the Forces who, as evidenced by their correspondence, earnestly desire to re-enter the haulage industry n hen they are discharged or become demobilized. Their permanent anxiety cc.ncerns the probability or otherwise of their being permitted to do so. Newspapers and periodiCals from home, including " The' Commercial Motor," are read eagerly in the 'search for information regarding. the post-war destiny of those hauliers at preient serving. So far thea seaich has. heen in vain. The only crumb of comfort to be derived is from the official state:Tents that their position will be given "sympathetic. consideration." Therein, however, lies neither pledge nor undertaking of re-instatement. No relief is afforded by way of the removal of that anxiety which weighs so,licavily upon these serving men Who, then, is going to plead their cause?
One of the national associations has stated that every assistance will be provided in order to facilitate the return of ex-Servicemen into the industry. Whilst this promise may be satisfactory so far as it goes, the trouble is that it does not go far enough. Assistance may be given to a hungry man to enable him to purchase food, but that does not provide him with a means for livelihood. Charity cannot take the place of rehabilitation and it does not provide social security. What any man desires and infinitely prefers is to be in a position to buy his own food. Therefore, assistance in itself is not sufficient to meet the case.
What is required is an insistent demand for re-instatement as a right in every sense and meaning of the word. Anything short of this will fail to meet the moral obligation of this particular organization or other representative bodies.
Unity of Representation Will Help • The Second Report of the Road Transport Organization Joint Conference contained a detailed policy in which the • claims of the ex-haulier were acknowledged ill the following terms:—" To ensure the rehailitation of operators who have been unable to continue to operate." Until, however, the projected National Road Transport Federation becomes a reality, and is in a position to implement by determined action this declaration, the words are meaningless and the intentions of no value.
There is evidence of disappointment respecting the delay surrounding the formation of the Federation. This delay is, in fact, the cause of growing restlessness and uneasiness. A feeling of mistrust is manifesting' itself and there prevails the impression that, under the surface, the waters are tntrubled. If it be that there are persons who are sabotaging the movement and growth of this proposed unified body they should be named and their machinations exposed. • The members of the road-haulage industry, including those serving with the Forces, have too much at stake to permit of their present and future interests being jeopardized. So great is the Measure of hope and reliance which has been placed npon the future of the Federation, as a means for providing adequate representation and comprehensive service, that no personal or sectional interest must be permitted to interfere with the attainment of such end
No movement can mature to fullest growth if harassed by adverse conditions, continual interference and harmful influences. The members of the road-haulage industry too frequently have suffered from weak and disjointed representation; so that a change in this particular respect is long overdue. The main avenue through which the industry can hope to enjoy the fruits of rightful recognition and justice is from a national waffled representative body endowed with fortitude and courage: from a body which commands respect and enjoys the confidence of Government and industry alike. It is, indeed, upon such a body that operators now serving with'. the Forces are relying for a just and square deal when they are discharged.
It is of supreme importance that, when they return to civilian life, these men will find themselves in a position no less favourable than the retailers. As .one Government Department has seen fit to announce its rehabilitation policy, why should not the same course be followed by the M.O.W.T. in respect of the road-haulage industry? Does the fault lie with the Ministry or with the representative bodies? In the main it is kinder to destroy hope altogether than to permit its continued existence where there is no hope of fulfilment.