TORIES AND CONTROLS"
Sta,—If Mr. Hugh Molson would study carefully and improve the pattern just discernible in the new Regional Organisation for Industry now being welcomed by employers, Trade Unionists and Local Authori- ties alike, if he would read the official terms of reference of the new Regional Boards and District Committees for Industry and note their democratic duty and responsibility, I don't think he would say that for the functional and geographical group-control of efficient industry in a democracy "no general solution ever will be found." What a hopeless sort of statement that is from a man who has done such useful work and so much progressive thinking and writing in the past few years! Are the younger politicians really so vexed and perplexed with the prospect of Britain's industrial future? Let me assure him that this is not the way that the younger managers and Trade Unionists feel. There is a basic pattern for all democratic group control' and we are nearer achieving it in Britain now than in any other nation I know of or can read about. But that pattern needs study and understanding. Then we shall get the enthusiasm and efficiency we all so anxiously desire. Not before. The pattern is the constant balance of only four major group-interests common to all individuals willing to get their share by giving their share towards a commonly-agreed objective, which from their knowledge of the past is the highest common factor of their group-interest both intellectually and emotionally. Industrial government must not any longer, as he suggests, "rest upon an unstable balance of leadership and control." Incidentally, the new regional organisation for peace-time industry is based on our war-time industrial experience, and was agreed pretty well in its present form first of all by the Coalition Government, then by the Caretaker Government and now by the Socialist Government. If we hurry up and understand it, we shall make it work. Come on, Mr. Molsonl- Yours faithfully,
Managing Director.
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