Confucius,
Page 41
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He Say .
pHILOSOPHERS and sages have often made a habit of condensing their wisdom into a series of short aphorisms which their disciples would learn by heart and apply in the conduct of their own lives. The sayings of Confucius, particularly some that he could not possibly have uttered, have become famous. The technique was not original even in his time, and it has since been used again and again for many different purposes. Even so, it is something of a novelty to find an agreement between two elements of an industry set out in what appears to be a series of wise saws.
The newly published statement on road haulage liaison, issued by the three Executives of the British Transport Commission and the Road Haulage Associa: tion, has at first sight something of the stark simplicity of the Ten Commandments. It is broken up into no fewer than 10 sentences, each of which may be taken by itself as text for an industrial sermon. Closer inspection shows that although the form may be unexpected, the manner is much the same as usual. The following passage provides as good an illustration as any:— " By the use of the complete system of contact provided at all levels between the parties, full regard will be paid to the part which independent hauliers can play in the transport of goods by road."
This sounds, at first, like an authentic prononncement from the Mount. For all I know, it may eveis be effective as an incantation for getting rid of warts. Unfortunately, like so many imposing documents and memoranda, it is entirely devoid of meaning. '
Implied Criticism The restraint, the almost polished style, of the joint statement is good cause for thinking that a" deal of anxious care was expended on its gestation. It is the more startling, therefore, to detect in it what seem to be criticisms of the new order.
It is stated early in the document that "liaison may not dispose of all the problems arising from the operation of the Transport Act." At the end, examples are given of some of the problems where liaison may be of help, "subject always to statutory provisions" The first example is "the • development between the Executives and independent hauliers of competition along uneconomic lines which leads ultimately to lower standards of service and higher real costs to trade and industry."
Uneconomic competition is deplored by any rightthinking person, and the two sides are to be commended for endeavouring, through liaison, to avoid this evil. It is odd, however, to stress that their efforts are "subject always to statutoi y provisions." This means, presumably,' that, no matter how tar harmful cut-throat competition may continue, nothing should be done to stop it which would involve a modification of the Transport Act. At this point, the document entirely parts company with the common-sense doctrine that the Sabbath was-made for man, not man for the Sabbath. If evil results be found to proceed from the Act, the better plan would surely be to scrap it. .
The joint statement is not so much a-treaty of alliance as a non-aggression pact. It seems to envisage the B.T.C. and the R.1-1.A as two separate countries, with liSison as a buffer State; or no-man's-land. Where the two sides cannot avoid relations with each other, liaison
exists to make those relations as agreeable andinnocuous as possible. On all other matters, the two sides look afiei their own affairs, and prefer to do so. That, at least, is the impression made by the statement
The general reaction must be ambivalent. One had feared agreement was possible on much less: one had hoped it would be extended. much farther. The two sides show a praiseworthy anxiety to avoid treading on each other's toes. They give no indication—except when dealing with the subject of " uneconomic competition "—of the use that may be made of liaison to provide a better service for the public.
Starry-eyed According to Section 3 of the Transport Act, -the B.T.C. has a duty "to provide, or secure or promote the provision of, an efficient, adequate, economical and properly integrated system of public inland transport."
As n aim, this is beyond criticism: whether the B.T.C.
is the best organization to carry out the task is another matter. But one may imagine the Government, a little starry-eyed maybe, setting out in about 1946 on its great
transport venture with a vision of all forms of transport, nationalized and free, closely linked in a common
endeavour to give the public the best possible service.
So far as I know, nobody has seriously disputed that this is the intention behind the wording of Section 3 The joint statement gives no indication that the two sides will actually.work together as expected.
Other evidence shows that in some respects they are drawing apart rather than-together. The B.T.C. is not now represented on the Road Haulage Wages Council.
Acquired undertakings are not allowed toremain
• members of the R.H.A. Whatever work the B.T.C. may be doing on the preparation of rates schedules and in other ways is 'carried on behind closed doors within the organization itself.
Admittedly, it would be difficult to imagine any other course of action being followed. To appreciate why, one has only to imagine independent hauliers making suggestions to the B.T.C. on rates and charges, or R.H.E. representatives voting on the R.H.A. National Council on some matter of vital importance to unnationalized hauliers Trader Unsatisfied
All the same, one wishes that this first—or is it first• and last?—statement had been more positive than negative. It will be widely read by the trader, anxious to learn what is likely to happen to the quality and cost of the transport service he has enjoyed in the past. He is less interested in what the two sides are going to do to avoid hurting each other than in what they are hoping to do jbintly to help him.
He is confronted with what appear to be the literary works of a Mandarin of Old China. The exquisite ideographs are formulated and transcribed with no thought of what lies beyond the Great Wall. Only at the words uneconomic competition" does the Oriental mask slip for a moment, reminded of the barbarians in the world outside, and a reference to " ultimate lower standards of service and higher real costs to trade and industry" is put in to propitiate their uncouth end disgusting gods