STEEL NATIONALISATION .
SIR,—My attention has been drawn to the comment in last week's 'Notebook' on the late Sir Henry Spencer. No doubt you find it disturbing that one of the most dynamic men in the British steel industry, Who himself had more than twelve years' experience of public ownership, was strongly in favour of ex- tending it to, the rest of the iron and steel industry.
In his comment, in The Times, Mr. Eley was, I am sure, correct in saying that Sir Henry had not expressed this view to him. In all his dealings with Labour Party leaders, Sir Henry was emphatic that nothing must be said which could detrimentally affect Richard, Thomas and Baldwin. This was the
condition on which, until illness intervened, he so freely gave us of his time and interest.
In an industry known for 'ganging up,' his views would not have been popular and might have damaged the firm to which he was devoted. Hence the silence imposed upon himself and us, until the moment came when it was no longer needed.
House of Commons, SW!
EIRENE WHITE
Previous page
