CO-OP PROPOSAL

Grey River Argus, 19 November 1946, Page 5

CO-OP PROPOSAL

For British Industry LONDON, November 17. Hinting that the time had come for the Gove.rnment to considei' whether an over-all plan for British industry was possible, the vice-chairman (Mr .Dukes) at a Liverpol mass meeting, said: “It is difficult to see how on any short-term planning production can be greatly increased without an additional labour force, which at present appears non-existent”. He added that shortages of iron and steel necessitated facing the fact that the existing plant and machinery on which increased production depended was inadequate, and that it could not be built up, except on a long-term policy. Industries had been considered individually, but so far the major problem of planning for the whole industrial field had not been thought out. It was unlikely, however, that labour would agree to a return to the direction and control which was essential for national planning. It was impossible to propose Government planning of industry by a Government lacking authority to enforce its implementation.

Mr Dukes said that while financial and commercial interests maintained the closed shop policy and over-all planning and management of industry the full benefits of planning could not be derived. “Why not try joint managerial control, giving trades unions representative interest, and securing cooperative effort, thus ensuring maximum production”, added Mr Dukes.