19 Men on Transport Sub-committee Include Strong Labour Element and R.P.E.Member
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• BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT SINCE the Municipal Passenger Transport Association's conference at Portsmouth, last month, when certain speakers criticized that
organization for allowing the 'Association of Municipal Corporations to become the mouthpiece of transport-owning municipalities in the matter of nationalization, little has been heard of A.M.C. activities.
Iunderstand, however, that on July 21, a report of the latest meeting of the transport sub-committee, set up to advise on nationalization, came before the A.M.C. council. At the moment it is ,confidential.
So little has been said abbut the constitution of the A.M.C. transport sub-committee that the chairman of at least one municipal transport committee was Completely unaware until last week that his corporation was represented On it. In fact, the sub-committee consists of 13 aldermen orcouncillors, and six local-government. officials, at least-nit-I.:
of whom are Socialists. . •
Ald. Sir Miles Mitchell, of Man. chester, who is vice-chairman of the general purposes • committee, of the A.M.C., is chairman of the. transport sub-committee. The members are Aid. H. Goodby, Birmingham; Coun.' P. Raymond, Bristol; Aid. H. L Galliers, Brighton; Aid. R. Broadley, Burnley; Coun. J. P. Collins, Cardiff; Coun. H. F. Outen, Luton; Coun. T.' Hughes, Neath; Coun, S. H. Simm, Newcastle-on-Tyne; Ald. W. G. Cutbush, Norwich; "Aid. T.. W. Badgland, Sheffield; Aid. M. M. Kelly., Stockton, and Coun. G. W. G. Armour, Liverpool..
Mr. Vane Morland included
112 local-government offi_cers on the sub-committee are the town clerks of Southend-on-Sea, Swindon, Sunderland and Wallasey, the deputy town clerk of Nottingham and Mr. W. Vane Morland,
• general manager ofLeeds Transport Department.
• Mr. Vane_ Morland's position is peculiar in that, as announced in "The Commercial Motor" on July I, he has been appointed a whole-time member of the new Road Passenger Executive, ,although he is mnootnexpected to leave Leeds for a few It is curious that a member of the nationalized transport undertaking should represent a council on a committee which is to consider the proposed nationalization of 'municipal passenger transport, and presumably he will resign from the A.M.C.
The anti-Socialist councils are Man chester, Liverpool, • Birniingham, Brighton, Cardiff, Luton, Newcastle-onTyne, Southend-on-Sea, Swindon and Wallasey. Bristol, Burnley, Neath. Norwich, Sheffield, Sunderland and Leeds are Socialist-controlled. Stockton and Nottingham have equally divided representation of Socialists and anti-Socialists, but it is understood that the deputy town clerk of Nottingham is in favour of nationalization.
Some of the anti-Socialist councils changed from Socialist control during
the municipal.. elections earlier this year. . In certain cases it. May well be that a Soe;alist nominee to the transport subcommittee Of the A.M.C, who was appointed before the municipal. elecElms. is still serving on the subcommittee,
• There is consequently no guarantee that the views of the individual members of the sub-committee are iliose ' -held by the majority on the councils • which they represent': To . • confirtri this belief. I have tried To . • confirtri this belief. I have tried to ascertain the polities of the members of the sub-committee. Sir Miles' Mitchell is a Liberal, and Aid. Gondhy. Conn. Otiten and Court. Armour are understood to be opposed to nationalization. The town clerk of Wallasey is said to be neutral.
Aid. Gainershas many friends in the Tilling organization, now owned by the British Transport .,Commission, and on
• that account might be thought to favour t:onalization,
Nine Snei.a.lists Coon. Raymond, Aid. Broadley, Coon. Collins, Court. Hughes, Court. Snutt, the town clerk of Sunderland, Cutbush, Aid. Bnidgland. and.. Aid. Kelly are understood to be Socialists. At least .five of them have been described to me as having strong labour views.
Many transport people are wondering whether the policy being followed by the A.M.C. •transport sub-committee is truly representative of public feeling. .1 am informed by the Association that fetters have been Sent to the town clerks of all interested authorities, seeking the views of the councils on .the proposed nationalization of passenger transport. The process of collecting information
is still cimtinuing•and no conclusion has yet been reached. Therefore, L inn inforrited, the sub-cOmtnittee cannOt yet have any settled poliey.
In an exclusive report The Coal-. mercial, Motor" of April I dealt with the A.M.C. meeting at which a resolution waS passed requesting the general purposes committee of the association to "set up immediately a spP.ial subcommittee to consider the advice that could be given to members to enable them, within the terms of the Transport Act, to participate in the control and ownership of the local road passenger transport services on • a basis which would ensure the most effective local control and yet, over large: areas, he integrated with other local services:" •
Ott that Occasion, the chairman, Sir, Miles Mitchell, • said that a depOtatioh had met jbe Prime Minister, arid had sought local public oWnerShip with fall' responsibility, particularly with regard to finance.