What is the Position on Nationalization?
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THE Government should give a clearer indication of its intentions concerning the question of nationalizing road transport, • urged • Alderman Charles Holdsworth, of Halifax, a vice-chairman of the Road Haulage Association and chairman of the R.H.A.s West Riding Area, in a speech at Leeds last week. There was danger of inefficiency arising, he suggested, because the ,present uncertainty tended to discourage operators from planning for the futures Alderman Holdsworth was speaking at a luncheon which he gave to mark the completion of the establishment of 10 R.FLA, sub-areas in the West Riding area.
Remarking that the intention to nationalize the road-transport industry had been widely proclaimed on Government platforms, Alderman Holdsworth said that unless some official announcement to the contrary was made, I e would take it that this intention was going to be carried out—if not immediately, then at some more distant date, He felt that the industry was entitled to know definitely what were the Government's plans. He had in mind all those operators whose businesses required that they should buy new vehicles or improve their premises.
He urged that pressure should be brought to bear on the M.O.W.T. with a view to getting a definite statement as to its intentions. If the position be not clarified, there was danger that the uncertainty would lead to ineffi-' ciency and even to stagnation in the industry.
Particularly welcoming officials of newly formed sub-areas. of R.H.A.'s West Riding Area, Alderman Holdsworth said that, although individualism counted for a great deal in the operation of road transport, it was vitally necessary that operators should pull together on big issues, Only through such unity could they hope to prevail upon the Government to pay heed to them.
A toast to Alderman Holdsworth was proposed by Mr. J._ A. M Bright. of Selby, who shares with him the vice-chairmanship of the R.H.A.