Operators Must Prepare for Peace
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Many Difficult Problems Will Confront Hauliers and Other By Users, aria Their Leaders Must Live Up to Their Position;. "Tantalus" WHAT a hackneyed phrase, "Don't you know there is a war on? " It is glibly used, often with a flavour of biting sarcasm, and particularly so by a section of the community the obligation of which it is to extend courtesy in serving the needs of its fellow-men. It is a phrase whichs frequently, is adopted as a camouflage for inefficiency and as an excuse by those who are inclined to take the line of least resistance. Under its cloak many restrictions have been imposed and liberty curtailed. It has served its purpose, and now the meaning and inference are entirely overshadowed by the statements regarding the progress of the war made recently by the Prime Minister and the military leaders of the Allied Forces.
As each day brings victory nearer, interest is stimulated concerning the post-war period and what is going to happen when that time actually arrives. So the old expression, " Don't you know there is a war on? " might well be translated into a new phrase which is full of significance and meaning, viz., " Don't you know that peace is coming? " This question is on the lips of those serving in the Forces, as well as of those at home It is not hackneyed and to be used merely as word by-play, but to be taken seriously.
Industrialists ' and private individuals alike are groping in the darkne,ss of uncertainty. They want to know what they may or may not be permitted to do when the day for the change-over at last dawns. For five years the Nation has lived under the domination of bureaucracy, which has regimented the lives of all concerned. Numerous orders have been issued which have prevented John Citizen from doing this or that. Many of them were made without even being considered by Parliament. Despite the curtailment of the freedom of the individual, the burdensome restrictions have been endured' with patience and fortitude. This for one reason and one reason only—to make fast and secure the liberty With which every citizen of this country has been endowed and which, temporarily, has had to be sacrificed. If the war had not been fought for entirely worthy objects, such sacrifice might have lost its meaning and value.
The Great Task Close Ahead The success of the forward march of the campaigns during the Coming weeks must focus attention on these essential matters. The most pessimistic estimate of the date of the ending of European hostilities leaves little enough time to prepare for the coming days Of peace. The problems lo be solved are of the greatest magnittide. There is the switchover of labour frem war to peace production; the demobilization of men and women from the Forces; the demobilization and redistribution of industries. Then it must be determined what controls are .necessary to regulate these processes.
In all probability, the stiffest fight of all will be wage:ton the battlefield of controls. The question which is exercising the minds of people generally is, " When shall we be free? ." This applies not only to individuals, but also to those engaged in industry, and the latter will play an important part in reconstruction schemes.
There have been removed a:ready a few of the minor regulations, such as that relating to the immobilization motor vehicles. Numerous regulations, however, which were made in an emergency and as a war-time necessity could well be swept away without any prejudicial effect on the progress of the war.
Everyone is tired of the domination of bureaucracy, which entails the filling in of innumerable forms by hosts of major and minor officials who are invested withauthority to dictate, for example, whete commodities may be purchased. Manufacturers are permitted to make only socks which are ridiculously short in length and which afford little or no protection in cold. weather_ At this stage of. the wan and with victory clearly in sight, surely these restrictions are necessary no longer? 'During the emergency period they were borne willingly and uncomplainingly, but the average citizen considers that the time has now arrived when a goodly measure of liberation might be permitted. This, certainly, is the opinion of industrialists, who are eager to put into immediate operation plans, already prepared, for peace-time production.
Admittedly, the position is not so simple as it may appear on the surface, for the question of labour and materials supply cannot be divorced from other matters conceimed with post-war production. This links up with questions regarding the demobilization of men and women from the Forces, respecting which the country has eagerly perused the announcement of the Government plans. Until these were known, the wheels of industry could not be set in full motion to meet post-war needs. All planning must, however, be purely theoretical until such time as employers are fully aware as to what extent they will be granted freedom to engage labour.
The Issue Before All Operators However great may be the anxiety of industrialists regarding the coming peace, and however colossal may be the undertaking, no section 'of the community is more deeply concerned than those individuals engaged in the road-transport industry. ' Already they, to a far greater extent than others, have experienced the workings of bureaucracy. They know the full meaning of the word "control." Before the war hauliers were very decided that, through the medium of the Traffic Acts, there had been introduced a sufficient measure of control to meet all reasonable requirements. Having now " enjoyed " control in the widest sense, including that concerned with the actual operation of vehicles, hauliers are in a position to judge for themselves whether they prefer to remain the servants of bureaucracy or whether they would welcome a return to the restricted freedom which obtained in the days before the war. From what is known of the opinions of haulier: there can be no doubt as to their decision. They are straining at the leash in an effort to obtain relief from the completing of piles of forms, and are seeking—sometimes even imploring—permission to perform an essential service of paramount importance to the war effort. So that they may be enabled to render efficient service to the trading community on an economic basis, they desire to obtain the freedom ,necessary to this end, together with fair conditions of competition with other forms of transport. They want freedom to play the transport game without having the dice loaded against them. They want also freedom from prejudice, harmful influences and political bias. Above all, they desire 'to enjoy the experience of a square deal. Their cry is for liberation from the strangling tentacles of bureaucratic control.
The burning question, therefore, is what position will the industry occupy and under what conditions will it operate in the post-war period? Will the hopes of the hauliers be realized or will they drift away as idle dreams? Have the leaders anticipated the coming peace and prepared a policy, acceptable to the industry, ready for launching at the appropriate time? Do they intend to fight for the liberation of the industry, Qr to continue as willing victims of a system of bureaucratic control? The time is getting short if they have not already made up their minds.
There remains little time fo deal with these matters, and hauliers have the right to know where they stand.In considering the future of the industry each member of the National Councils of the representative bodies and of the S.J.C. should have on his desk a card bearing the following words:--. • " Don't you know there is a peace coming? "