EXPERIMENT IN MANAGE. MENT

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 103, 4 May 1933, Page 19

EXPERIMENT IN MANAGE. MENT

Speaking at a luncheon in London recently, Sir John "Beith, Director.fiencral of the 8.8.C, .referred again to the 8.8.C. as an- example of a form of management that may finH extended use. "One of the theories I propound," he said, "is that whether or not one may believe as.l do in" the -democratic .principle ono will not achieve it by democratic methods.' "The 8.8.C. is an exceedingly interesting and important experiment in public management, and my hope is that in due time one will find the railroads, coal,' and steel, nationalised 'up to the B.B!C. system, and iW Post Office*and one or two- ftther Government departments nationalised down.' ;. ■.-, "Devise.if you can ~» democratic; method of running the 8.8.C What, you have is obviously the possibility of public control over major policy, initially. jn the shape of a charter or a licence, ;•'. , .. "The public interference in management —-can you have that? "Don't criticise the'B.B.C. constitu-; .lion because'the programmes., are in. your ..opinion rotten, and don't consider tfce programmcs.TOtten becauseyou dislike the form of control." ■-' Sir John vigorously defended tho 8.8.C. against charges of deliberate political-biasiv! j; ; .^»-a^ .--'■ :'.'A~ ■> " Within aifew weeks," he : said, "of Lord Bridgeman's appointment,, as »; governor of the 8.8.C, he (Lord Bridgeman) was tackled by many acquaintances of his with vitriolic observations about my Socialism, if not Communism. "More significant is this fact: that whatever,you-Labour members, ex-. members, candidates, and Labour Party adherents; think with respect to' the 8.8.C, your views, are ■ comparatively mild compared with the views of the right wing of the Conservative Party. ■ ','On the matter of political bias, the 8.8.C. will not ejubmit to the charge of'anything deliberate either in that or in any other sphere, and every effort is made.to obviate the charge of bias in the political or any other field."