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An Old Reader Castigates Us

2nd November 1945
Page 25
Page 25, 2nd November 1945 — An Old Reader Castigates Us
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

WITH reference to your leading article, "The Trend " of Nationalization," in your issue dated September 14, I appreciate the consistency of your articles on private interests, published before and after the General Election, and I believe that you are sincere, but, like many more organs of this country's Press, you • are mistaken.

Our people. having experienced before and after two world wars the results of private enterprise, have decided, by a large majority, to nationalize certain industrial undertakings, which a.re to be run by, and in the interests of, the Nation, and not for private-profit.

I am not a member of the T.U.C., a delegate, or even a trade unionist, However. I and many other practical workers in the road motor industry know that private. profit interests are far from efficient. You refer to the experience with the Northern Ireland Transport Board,' and much could perhaps be written on this, but you do not mention the London Passenger Transport Board. The public has seen, and knows, of the improvements brought about by this body iii connection with both road and rail, not in Northern Ireland, but in the capital of the British Empire.

You say that you cannot see thatany good will result from making a. drastic change. Well, the majority of the people thinks otherwise, and I believe that you are mistaken -and suffering from a blind political policy.

In a letter to you entitled "Railways and Road.'' and published in. your, issue dated March 16, 1922, I said : " The only principle that can be adopted is to alter the existing law and nationalize the key industries, such as transport." CONSTANT READER. Banstead..

[We thank oar contributor for his belief in our sincerity, but may we ask Why he is so certain that we are wrong? We are of the firm opinion, which is hacked by many of those who admittedly voted for Labour at the General Election, that a large proportion of those who did so had no wish to see any great measure of nationalization of industry. Reference is made in the course of the,letter to both private " interests " and private " enterprise." We certainly believe in the latter. We cannot appreciate the remark: " Our people haying experienced before and after two world wars the results of private enterprise." At any rate, the results of the second world war cannot yet be ascertained, and, in any -case, the Labour Party was most emphatic regarding the need for arresting Hitler's process of nationalization anciconquest. In our view, to deprive thousands of hauliers of businesses which they have built -up, often by years of self-sacrificeand .hard work, would be a form of dictatorship and forced acquisition not far removed from that which we have been fighting so fiercely to defeat. Some of the bigger men in road transport may obtain reasonably good posidons under a nationalized system, but what about the many thousands of smaller operators who may have to revert to driving or to seeking some other means to gain their-livelihood? If, in this respect, we are fighting for the retention of private interests, then, perhaps, we caw be accused of following this " mistaken " policy.—Ep.].


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