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Market forces

7th February 1975
Page 34
Page 34, 7th February 1975 — Market forces
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

SOME PEOPLE concerned with transport in Britain have derived considerable pleasure from poking fun at the common transport policy, for which they feel no particular affection or responsibility, since it was drawn up in the EEC long before British membership. Ponderous and slow-moving, it makes a tempting target for wit and for abuse. The attacker can hardly miss.

Other people have treated it as they would a job lot bought at an auction. It contains one or two things they would like to keep while rejecting the rest.

Abstractions

Operators in general have found it .easy not to think too deeply about the policy and its implications. Harmonization, infrastructure, tariffication, and all the other polysyllables sprayed out at teach-ins and seminars, have seemed abstractions remote from the commercial world in which operators make their living.

Even their attitude towards the EEC in general has not been strongly partisan. The opinion of the operator on own-account is mainly in line with that of the business for which he works — more often than not, therefore, in favour of continued membership. The inclination of the haulier is probably in the same direction; but for public consumption he affects neutrality. He argues that his job is to serve his customers, which he will continue to do whatever national or supranational decisions are made over his head.

Now he is called upon to stand up and be counted. In the few months allowed the public to make up their minds both sides in the EEC controversy will parade the common transport policy for inspection, drawing attention to either its good or its bad points according to taste.

The road operator will not find it easy to cope with this kind of confrontation. He may even find himself involved in defending, the policy, much in the same way as the man who constantly abuses his own country will not allow the same licence to a foreigner.

In supporting the policy, the operator would appear to be declaring a preference for remaining within the EEC. Paradoxically, if it is indeed his preference, it might not best be served by his defence.

Sections of the policy or its consequences are known to be unpopular. The most notorious item is the suggestion that vehicle weights should be the same throughout the EEC — or rather the corollary that agreement on the weights is likely to be at a maximum above what is now permissible in Britain.

The anti-marketeers will use the threat of the Continental juggernaut as one of their weapons. The promarketeers will insist that the threat is imaginary, and that no Government would permit a weight increase' whatever the result of the referendum. The operator who thinks the increase accords with common sense will be better saying nothing if he wants to keep Britain in.

Conflict

A clear-cut conflict over the use of heavy lorries must arise in the field of international road transport. Well before Britain joined the EEC hauliers were developing the services which were only made possible by the use of roll-on/roll-off ferries. Without doubt membership has aided the development and encouraged operators to set up depots and acquire businesses on the mainland. It has also entailed an increase in the number of heavy lorries on certain routes.

Withdrawal from the EEC would not bring all this activity to an end. But it would embarrass many hauliers who had planned for an expansion geared to the privileges of EEC membership, including the Community quota of permits. These hauliers are likely to have made their minds up already about how they will vote in the referendum.

Drivers' view

One of many unknown quantities is the attitude of the lorry driver. The trade union leaders have left no doubt of their own opinion. Their members may think differently.

Drivers who have taken vehicles into Europe will not want anything to interfere with or curtail theirjourneys in the future. Their colleagues in domestic transport are less sure. The issue is one on which they will listen • just as carefully to their employer — the welfare of his business may depend on the verdict — as to their union.

by Janus

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