Political Commentary
Page 55
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The Wheel Turns Full Circic
The Latest Labour Party Statement, "Full of Noble Sentiments," Condemns as Tory-ism the Practices Which the Socialists Are Now Using Against Independent Road Transport Operators
By JAN US MOST of us are inclined to imagine that our own cabbage-patch is a microcosm. There is often no way of appraising the national or inter! ational situation unless we can i.educe it to familiar proportions. When the politician bangs the big drum and spreads out his wares in the market place, the road transport operator tests the flattering promises and windy platitudes by comparing them with what is
happening in his own business. .
The, latest party statement comes from Transport House under the name of "Labour and the New Society." It is full of noble sentiments about the dignity and well-being of the individual and the rights of man. It professes tO set out the broad principles guiding the Government, and to indicate in general terms how those principles will be put into effect during the next year or so. . .„ . . .
On such occasions the opportunity is seldom missed of a thrust at the other side. "Labour and the New Society" contains several references to the bad old days when the Tories were in control. In the past,' it is alleged, economic power "treated human beings 'as though they were machines" The small man in industry was "pushed under by big business and hamstrung by monopoly."
Bigger Business The free-enterprise transport operator, and particularly the haulier, may be pardoned for commenting that this is almost exactly how he is being treated to-day. Big business, in the shape of the British Transport Commission, is restricting and handicapping him in every way, aided by the benevolent provisions of that characteristically Tory measure, the Transport Act.
The haulier may also feel regret that the document was not issued three years ago. It repeats what has now become part of every Socialist pronouncement, that where an industry is to be nationalized only in part, the State-owned section will compete "fairly and squarely" with private enterprise. If this principle had been evolved earlier, it would have made a great deal of difference to the Transport Act. Given the opportunity of fair competition with the British Transport Commission, the haulier would be a much happier man.
Closer examination of what the new document has to say on this point, however, shows a slight withdrawal from the previous, more confident promise, made before the General Election, to take on all corners on equal terms. Fair and square competition is now promised only to "private firms which are not pulling their weight in the national effort."
Who decides how much weight is being pulled? Presumably the Government, which is thus in the enviable position of being able to select just the opponents it pleases. From this point of view, not to be regarded as a candidate for fair competition may be considered a compliment, if a somewhat drastic one. Evidently the Government feared the challenge of free-enterprise road transport. "Labour and the New Society" goes so far as to state that, without nationalization, "the railways would have become derelict." "As it is," the document continues, "more services and greater efficiency are helping industry and travellers." This is one of several claims which naturally the Socialists are bound to make. On another page, however, it is stated that the nationalized industries have been moving in a circle, from the local unit to the national organization, and thence, by means of decentralization, to the restoration of "scope to local initiative and enterprise."
As it so happens, the contention that the public corporations have yet to win their spurs has been taken up by the Labour Party's other self, the Trades Union Congress. The council's economic committee, in a report discussed at the annual congress, deals with many of the same points as "Labour and the New Society," but is not nearly so pleased with what has so far been achieved.
The committee states that there is still a great deal to be done toimprove the structure and operation of the publicly owned industries. "Common sense indicates" that at the present time efforts should be concentrated on making such improvements.
In that event, the difference of opinion between party and congress may not be great. "Labour and the New Society" has several proposals calculated to improve the efficiency of the industries already nationalized. "Outside advice" is to be sought when necessary. There are strange possibilities here if for " outside " one is intended to read "private enterprise." One may yet find the chairman of the British Transport Commission asking the chairman of the Road Haulage Association for details of his plan to deal with the railways; or the chairman of the Road Haulage Executive consulting the president of the Traders' Road Transport Association on ways and means of stopping the growth in the number of C-licensed vehicles.
Consumer Criticism
More scope for criticism by the consumer is promised It should be made easier for him to exercise his right to criticize and to impress his wishes on the public industries through the consumers' councils. A further proposal is to give local authorities the task of putting forward the criticisms and suggestions of the people they represent.
In addition, it is intended to have from time to time independent reviews of each public industry, so that an account of policy and performance can be laid before Parliament and the public. Here, once again, the wheel seems to have turned full circle. Mention of an independent review cannot fail to bring to mind the often reiterated demand, before nationalization, for an impartial public inquiry.
The invariable answer was that no inquiry was needed, as the whole question had already been thoroughly thrashed out, and the decision was not in doubt. Now, too late for any profound change to be made, the Government has come to realize the advantages of an independent survey.