What War ?
Page 23
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MO one would suggest for a second that the Labour deputy leader, Mr. George Brown, is other than sincere. However, in view of his latest outburst, reported on page 22, about this wicked (if you believe him) industry, road haulage, one can he forgiven for slightly misquoting Hamlet to remark: The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks."
What has happened lately is that goods vehicle maintenance has become a topic of intense public interest, largely as the result of the Minister of Transport's " blitz " spot checks. Every responsible person in the industry agrees that irresponsible elements must be stamped out but to adroit that is not to be taken as agreeing that the whole industry (or, indeed, any sizeable piece of it) is irresponsible.
Some members of the Labour Party hold views that are about as left wing as they can get. Mr. Brown would, however, be most angry if. road hauliers were to take that as typical of the entire Socialist movement. Yet he does that very thing to road haulage. Why?
Because he, like the Labour Party as a whole, knows that old-style nationalization is not what the public wants. So they are wrapping up outdated ideology in the guise of being public guardians.
Mr. Brown referred to " a new transport war on our roads ". What war? Prove it or pipe down, brother.
The General Election is now very close indeed. It is obviously not going to result in anything for hauliers and C licensees except the receipt of large handfuls of mud and near-hysterical outbursts from politicians more concerned with catching votes than facing facts. The goods transport industry should understand this very clearly when it considers who it should return to represent it in the next Government