Political Commentary By JAIVUS
Page 63
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The Closed Mind
\ATHEN one of the Old Masters was engaged-on a vast setpiece with an historical, allegorical or religious theme, he would often feel obliged, or . perhaps. be compelled, to model the portrait of one of the minor characters on the patron who was paying for the finished job.. Sometimes, the fusion of art with commerce was by no means complete. Centuries afterwards, scrutinizing the work in art gallery or stately home, we can detect the join, and can spot the one leering, ruffianly face standing out like a sore thumb among the grave senators of Rome or the bright host of Heaven.
A study group of the national executive of the Labour Party has produced, two works ofartifice, if not of art. One, a review of, the .nationalized industries, is of the school of Hugh Gaitskell. The other, dealing with future public ownership, is of the Welsh school of Jim Griffiths. They are companion pieces, showing a strong Impressionist influence. Each picture, seen from a distance, is pleasing, and even seems to make sense. On closer inspection, it breaks up into a series of soft strokes,-lacking exact meaning.
"As Strong as Ever" In this sea of imprecision, two facts stand out with absurd distinctness. Among the vague promises and -threats is the very definite statement that, when they next. get the chance, the Socialists will renationalize iron and steel and long-distance road haulage. The reasons, for what they are worth, are that the case for public ownership of the two industries remains ".as strong as ever," and that denationalization was "harmful to the industries concerned and to the economy at large."
What is particularly odd about these reasons is that they are out of step with the remainder of the booklet, "Industry and Society," in which they appear. The study group, whilst they appear to regard no industry or undertaking as safe from State ownership, consider that no action should be taken without full inquiry, and even then that complete nationalization may not be the appropriate remedy.
Case Pre-judged
There is to be no inquiry about steel or road haulage. Their case is pre-judged. In the second booklet, " Public Enterprise," the study group say there was no doubt in 1947 about the great economies to be obtained by the creation of a single national transport service. The success of British Road Services was also "not in doubt" in 1953.
This is absurd. There was serious opposition to the Socialist policy of nationalizing transport. There was considerable support for the Conservative proposal to return the greater part of road haulage to free enterprise. In fact, the Transport Act, 1953, was passed by Parliament, following publication of a White Paper expressing the Government's opinion that British Road Services could not give trade and industry the speedy, individual and specialized services afforded by free hauliers before nationalization. Whatever the rights or wrongs of the case, it cannot be said that there were no doubts about the Socialist policy,
The reason for the .speciar treatment of steel and road haulage proposed by the study group is simple. The return of the two industries to State ownership was made Party policy before the group set to work. It had to be included in their proposals, whatever else they said. The composition of the group, which included personalities as diverse as Mr. Gaitskell and Mr. Aneurin Bevan, Mr. Harold Wilson and Mr. Ian Mikardo, made inevitable a compromise statement, sufficiently nebulous to suit both extremes. They could not be similarly vague about steel and road haulage. On this point, they were acting under the direct instructions of their patrons, in much the same way as the Old Masters.
Ineffective Disguise
There was no getting away from it. Starkly unattrae• tive and unpopular as any firm proposal for nationalization must be—and as the study group probably knew it to be—they had no choice. They may have hoped that, by dismissing it in a few words at an early stage, the proposal would escape attention. Their efforts to disguise it have only served to make it more egregious.
The Labour Party are to consider the two documents at their annual conference in Brighton from Septem
ber 30 to October 4. They would be well advised to
leave the two pictures where they can be admired from afar, and not to mistake them for blueprints. The account of the nationalized industries, "Public Industry," is nothing more than an exercise in 'selfcongratulation. Although undertaken, according to Mr.
Gaitskell, with no preconceived ideas, it is hardly surprising that the group reached the conclusions they wanted to reach. They consulted a good many people, including the chairmen and officials of the nationalized boards. Needless to say, they did not seek advice from the renegades who, having served for a while in a nationalized industry, decided they could stand it no longer and took another job.
The so-called plan for public ownership, "Industry and Society," raises so many difficulties that one can hardly imagine any future Labour Government making a serious, attempt to put the plan into execution. There will be all the greater temptation for them to redeem their pledge on steel and transport. They at least have some experience of nationalizing these two industries. They might be prepared to risk unpopularity, and ignore the regret that any sensible man must feel at the prospect of yet another upheaval in two sorely tried industries.
Decay From Within
On the subject of these two industries, the Labour Party,—but not, it must be admitted, the rank and file of their supporters—present a completely closed mind.
This is a dangerous state of mind for politicians. It offers no opportunities for growth. It decays from within.
if the Socialists have any sense, or if they wish to win the next election, they will not cling to outmoded ways of thought, but will genuinely give their whole body of principles a. thorough airing. Hauliers musttake whatever opportunity arises to help. They must make a determined effort to prise the closed mind apart, and
to let in a little much-needed commonsense. n23