The Dangers of Uncertainty
Page 35
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N°THING is more harmful to business and trade than a State of uncertainty, and the commercial-vehicle industry, (hiring the last few years, has been particularly unfortunate in this respect. Time after time doubt as to the future, either regarding taxation or control, or possibly both, has resulted in the delaying of orders and the 'consequent dislocation of factory, programmes.
There is little need to emphasize the effect on the passenger-vehicle Industry, first, while it was awaiting the Report of the Royal C011.11111Ss ion on Transport, and then the Road Traffic Act, 1930, followed by the bringing of this Act into operation and the numerous and sometimes onerous regulations which ensued.
Those concerned in the haulage industry and ancillary users have hitherto escaped comparatively lightly from these enervating effects, and the manufacturers, after seeing destroyed much of their business in the production of passengercarrying vehicles, relied to a considerable extent upon the goods vehicle, but the Salter Conference Report and the possibility of further restrictive legislation have gone a long way towards reducing to an alarming degree a total production which was of major importance to the prosperity of the industry, thereby adding considerably to the ranks of the unemployed.
The Government, as represented by the Ministry of Transport; is a reed blown by the storm, knowing not on which side to obtain support, but inclined towards the vested interests of the . railways, despite_ the fact that road transport has now a greater turnover than any other means for transit, and a total capital Value amounting to an enormous sum.
What the industry, urgently requires is a long period of freedom from further petty and major restrictions, and liberty to expand where this can be indicated as being beneficial to trade and the convenience of the public.
A great deal of good would result from a definite statement • by the Minister that the harmful suggestions put forward by the Salter Conference will not be acted Upon. Indecision may easily do more harm than a definite policy. Barriers are not always found to be so formidable when they are reached. It is those dangers which we fear, but of which we. have but little knowledge, that appear to be the most difficult to face.