16 JULY 1948, Page 15

"THE LOGIC OF NATIONALISATION" SIR,—Although no blind devotee of nationalisation,

I cannot pass unchal- lenged Dr. Jacks' Logic of Nationalisation. To state a general rule from two particular examples is not logic. Because Hitler and Stalin nationalised labour, does it necessarily follow that we cannot do other- wise ? Before making such dogmatic assertions a more general view must be taken. Consider, for instance, New Zealand. That country has been run on Socialist principles for some years, but I have not heard that compulsory direction of labour is the rule there. Even Dr. Jacks' simile of the boiler is not very apt. Has he never heard of an oil-fired