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HERE 'at last is denationalization almost upon us. After the banners and the slogans, and the longdrawn-out battles in Parliament, we may perhaps have expected a sign. in the heavens, or some other potent of good or evil omen. Instead, we have a dignified and mildly self-congratulatory statement from the British Transport Commission—almost as if they had thought up the whole thing themselves—coupled with a few benevolent words from the chairman of the Disposal Board.
• Perhaps this is all as it should be. Both the Commission and Sir Malcolm Tristram Eve make great play with the 1953 Act. They seem to have studied it very carefully, and are determined not to put a foot wrong. or to have a hair out of place. The Act says there must be "public notice," so they are prepared to spend a good deal of money—your money, for the cost will be met from the transport levy—on advertising in the Press. It would appear that the publicity will not state what units are to be sold, but merely where lists of the units and copies of the tender form are to be had. As the only possible Source is the Commission, one would have thought it unnecessary to make such an elaborate announcement.
The Act also says theromust be small units; and the arst 10,000 . vehicles, to be transferred by the end of next April as the first stage in the disposal, will be comprised in 1,500 transport units, hone to include more than 50 vehicles, and apProxiniately half, to be offered in small lots of up to four -vehicles without premises.
The Act does, of course, put the task of disposal upon the. Commission, under, the supervision of the Disposal Board. The Commission must do the work as quickly as is reasonably practicable, and at the same time carry on the existing road haulage undertaking so that it can be disposed of without delay and on the best terms available, and without avoidable disturbance of 'the country's transport. How the Commission do this is their own affair.
Takes No Notice
Next they are to form the units and invite the tenders, and the constitution of each unit and the conditions of its purchase must enable the buyer to engage without delay in the business of road haulage. Subject to the approval of the Disposal Board, the Commission's opinion is the one that counts in deciding whether a unit satisfies this condition. The Act takes no notice Of the opinion either of the purchaser or of any customers he may hope' to attract.
In forming the transport units, the Commission must acknowledge the desirability of giving the man of limited means an opportunity in selling the units; and the Commission must acknowledge the desirability of avoiding any step which is likely to lead to the elimination or undue restriction of competition in road haulage.One would as soon expect a vegetarian to acknowledge the " desirability " of a porterhouse steak, or a woman about to choose a husband to acknowledge the " desirability " of polygamy. It is possible to tolerate something very much the opposite of one's own way of life, but to pay homage to it must go against the grain.
However, the Commission have swallowed the draught and remain .serene Of temper. They seem almost anxious to oblige. According to their statement—which written throughout in the third person, like the fore acceptance of an invitation from high places—they "of course" make every effort to adhere to the tin table they give, "but they point out that the sale the greater part of so large and complex an undertak. is unique, and none of the staff engaged has had a similar experience in the past, and unexpected cont gencies may arise to cause delay. The timing of transf will depend to some extent on the speed with wh successful tenderers act."
Not to be outdone in courtesy, Sir Malcolm no with approval "the immense effort which the staff British Road Services have made in the short space four months to identify, classify and catalogue the mg thousands of vehicles, together with the relev premises and stores." The Board, he states, hi accepted" that the pace of the Commission's program is the best practical in the circumstances laid down the Act. We attach great importance, however, maintaining this time-table."
• Made to Measure?
I suppose we must admit that we expected someth like this. The prospective buyers have always knc they would be getting something ready to wear, made to measure. Nevertheless, the bare mention a sale conjured up a picture of a long queue of shopr picking out what they wanted, or even an auction which Mr. Cecil Poole's job lots for the boys we be put up.
Now that the reality has arrived, some of the bill must be rather daunted at finding a. list of sev. thousand mass-produced transport units thrust into ti hands with a peremptory demand to make a To choice. The man with a unit in mind may have or at the most two, chances of having a look at vehicles. When he turns up, he is more than likel3 find other bidders there looking at him with a specula eye, trying to guess how much he will tender.
If he is interested in several units, although he inte to buy only one, he will find himself with little sr time. To make sure no opportunity is lost, the woi be operator will have to peruse the second list, and in a further bid as soon as he knows that the first failed.. The same procedure will follow with the tl list, and, as the Commission threaten or prom is "fourth (and if necessary fifth) schedule," he may himself by next summer in a state of exhaustion still without a unit.
So devoid of passion are the recent progress st ments on denationalization that they alnao.st fail to 'c; conviction. A few snarls from the Ivory Tower.ar querulous complaint or two from the Disposal Bc might have helped the prospective buyer to feel the process of disposal was really cut and dried. it is, he may well compare himself with the chili of Israel, rallied together by the Disposal Board, loaded with unexpected favours by the Egyptians formerly oppressed them. Instead of finding a transport unit waiting for him, he is caught up, in a r exodus. All he hopes is that there will not be a 1 term in the wilderness before he reaches' the prom land flowing with milk and traffic.