State Control v. Industrial Freedom
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. Fundamental Differences in -Outlook Concerning the Future of Road Transport Form the Theme of Recent Ministerial Speeches
By "Tantalus"
UNABATED continues the argument as to whether, after the war, there should be a return to private enterprise or whether State control should prevail. Public interest in the future social and economic system has been further stimulated by the recent speeches of two members of the Government, viz., Mr. Herbert Morrison, Home Secretary, and Captain Harold Balfour, the Under-Secretary for Air. Of the two speeches the latter has aroused the greater and more widespread
• interest, and that because of the unexpected and very decided views propounded therein with evident frankness and sincerity.
All supporters dP the freedom of the individual must feel considerably heartened by the words of Captain Balfour, which embody vigour and strength. The public, continually, is being lectured, warned, advised and directed on the need for the continuance of State control of life and property after the war, Such speeches, moreover, are not confined to any particular section. of the community, or to menibers of this or that organization, but are the outpourings' even of Ministers of the Crown. This suggests that the dissemination of such propaganda is taking the form, rather, of a preliminary canter in preparation for the struggle that, surely, mus't ensue regarding the future form of Government which the country will haye to endure.
The warning of Captain Balfour came at an opportune moment and should do much to stimulate the fight concerning the issue of private enterprise versus State control, in the same way that it may seem to restore a sober, balanced'prospective and sane judgment.
The advocates of State control assert that that particular form of Government will not only cure all evils, but, at the same time, will eliminate poverty and provide
• security for all. It must be emphasized, however, that control adopted as a war-time necessity is something quite different from peace-time measures and should be regarded as such. No one would presume to dispute that -the unusual and unforeseen problems of war demand the control of the full resources of the Nation as regards both man-power and materials.
End Control With the War .
On the other hand, when the need no longer exists, controls should be Withdrawn and allowed to pass into oblivion. Whether or not this actually will happen may be the main -issue to he decided when peace returns. That, doubtless, is one reason why the protagonists of State control are so anxious to influence public opinion in favour of such a system. It should not be overlooked that it is fat easier to set up an all-powerful bureaucracy . than to destroy it; and there are defiiite and growing -signs of the intention that the bureaucracy accepted by 'the Nation during this war shall continue to function ' and control the lives of the people in times Of peace.
, There are many politicians who are ardent advocates of the extinction of private enterprise and the replacing of it by a system of State control. They argue that every form of State ownership andcontrol is better than any form of private enterprise. To quote Captain Balfour ; — • "They 'see before thera.the dawn of a glorious vision of State ownership of all and sundry; State control, State direction, form-filling statistics, regimentation of work and leisure by inviolable Government Departments and, of course, as a necessary corollary, the extinction of the ' little man' and the small business, as being inefficient and unwanted in such a perfect, ordered society. The desire for individual enterprise and ownership, however small or great, is to be 'relegated to that class of thing 'not quite nice Thus the picture is very vividly painted in strong colours for all to see and note.
Another warning against the system of continued control in peace was given recently by Mr. Ernest Brown, Minister of Health. He stated that there are some con • trols which should be swept away at the earliest possible moment; such, for example, as control of the Press, of organized representative bodies like employers' federations, trade unions, etc., and all general controls which are not needed to achieve an orderly change-over from war .to peace. The Minister added that to assume that the people have come to love control for its own sake is a dangerous misreading of the people's sacrifice of personal liberty, habits and tastes for the supreme end of victory in this, the greatest war in history. This has been done to a grim extent at the cost of great civilian restriction which the people .should not be asked to suffer in peace-time.
'Demand for Freedom not Political It must not be thought that the columns. of this journal are being used to sponsor any political party or to bolster up any particular party creed. As a matter of fact, ever since the question of State 'control or nationalization became an issue "The Commercial Motor' unwaveringly has championed the cause of individual freedom, without fear or favour, and particularly in relation to the road-haulage industry.
, All persons engaged in industry, trade and commerce, are concerned with the future system which will govern their. living and very existence. This applies also to every ,shopkeeper as to every citizen. Everyone is asking: "What is going to happen to me after the War? What will be my lot?" Take the case of the shopkeeper Who had to close his business when he joined the Forces or as a result of concentrkion schemes. Will the social and economic system of the future permit him to re-establish himself, or will the doors be barred against him? Not hundreds, but literally thousands, are concerned with this question to which, so far, no answer has been forthcoming. This uncertainty affects particularly the cross-section of the community engaged in the road-haulage industry, which has been so greatly affected by State control. What words of comfort and hope as to the future shaping of affairs have yet been heard?
There is the A.R.O., with its preponderance of hauliers on the membership roll, which has been silent on the question of the post-war status of healers and the reinstatement in the industry of members now serving their country. The C.M.U.A., with a 'lesser percentage of haulier members, also has maintaiqed a profound and none the less disconcerting silence regarding this matter. As for the S.J.C., which claims to be the representative corporate body of the haulier and which is recognized by the M.O.W.T. as such it has divulged no real sign of interesj or intended action.