Ministry Merry-Go-Round
Page 22
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TRANSPORT, whether it be by road, rail, air 1 or sea, constitutes a service of increasingly greater importance, for almost everything else depends upon it. Without it, the value of industry and production, however well organized, would be nullified. Even now in road transport, in particular areas, the carriage of both goods and people has been reduced virtually to a crawl. Urgently required products are being seriously delayed and, largely as a result of this, costs are increasing out of all proportion.
In view of these facts, it might be thought that the ministry most vitally concerned with them, that of Transport and Civil Aviation, would occupy a priority position and the minister concerned be included in the Cabinet.
What, however, occurs? This ministry is treated as if it were a comparatively junior department and is employed merely as a stepping-stone for constantly changing titular chiefs. No sooner has one minister become accustomed to his task and is more or less familiar with its many aspects than he is replaced by another, to the great annoyance of the representatives of all those bodies who have wasted time and trouble in bringing to his notice the problems with which they are faced and upon which they hope that at least some action will be taken. Take the case of the most recent change. At last, thought those in road transport who have staunchly advocated an increase in the speed limit of 20 m.p.h. for heavy vehicles, we have found a man who appears more reasonable concerning this important question, yet, within a few hours of making observations to this effect, he no longer has any direct interest in the transport industry as he is removed to a completely changed environment.
Some people may say that so much depends upon the permanent officials that such a move is of no great consequence, but these officials cannot plead their own case with the same force and weight as can the responsible minister. To obtain. something like continuity of purpose, the helmsman should have more than a vague idea of direction, and with such a complicated and varied business as transport, with all its pros and cons, the minister should possess a good grasp of the subject and be able, assisted by the advice of his officials, to arrive at decisions which will not only keep the wheels rolling but also speed them up.
Surely, it is reasonable to expect that a ministry so vital should have the best available man at its head—but some of those who have passed through its portals have shown little more than weakness and procrastination.