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The Cautious Amorists

4th September 1953
Page 30
Page 30, 4th September 1953 — The Cautious Amorists
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

REV1EWERS of the Interim Report on Public Ownership prepared by the general council of the Trades Union Congress, must have been struck by the apparent desire of its writers to show their affection for the national ownership of industries, but moderated by some doubts as to its value in certain instances, also the lukewarm claim that the public corporations have proved efficient and developed successfully, whilst industrial relations have been bettered.

On the other hand, the T.U.C. frankly confess that proposals put forward for any further public control should be based on experience and that industries vital to the nation might, during the take-over period, be reduced in efficiency. Taking these points into consideration, the only clear case for complete public ownership is regarded as being the water supply.

As regards the production of motor vehicles, this is included with certain other activities in the engineering field as being worthy of being placed under the control of a "development council," the successful working of which, however, would, it is considered, depend upon the goodwill of the two sides, i.e. the council and private ownership.

The T.U.C. also appear to have some doubt as to the advisability of complete public ownership of the machine-tool industry, but believe that some key concerns should be taken over. Here they differ from the view of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions, who believe that this industry should be nationalized as a whole, but not before other sections of engineering have been placed under control.

Good advice from the T.U.C. is that the trades union movement would be unwise to commit itself at present to any specific measures for public ownership in connection with the aircraft industry, and suggest that an analysis of the problems involved should be made in conjunction with the Confederation before reaching final conclusions.

A similar damping-down of enthusiasm is proposed in connection with the Confederation's suggestion of national ownership for the Associated Commercial Vehicles Group, which is a special case.

It should be remembered that these points are referred to only in an interim report. This will be submitted to the next Congress early in September when, no doubt, the rabid but purblind nationalizers will give full vent to their devoted theories. It shows, however, that a fairly important section of the T.U.C. fear that which they love. This fear is probably justified, at least by the present feeling amongst many of the country's voters, not excluding some of the Socialists, who have learnt that the mere fact of national ownership does not bring Utopia.

It remains to be seen at the next general election, which according to some reports may not be far ahead, whether the threats of further nationalization will meet the approval of the electorate, for no doubt, this factor will be one of the main planks in the Socialist programme.


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