Technocrat It has been instructive to observe the degree of
affectionate esteem evoked by Dr. Beeching's farewell to the railways this week. In his short spell' as head of this nationalised industry he probably provoked more indignation and oppo- sition than any other man outside the heated world of party politics. He was castigated as ruthless, inconsiderate, heavy-handed. One arche- typal City Tory of my acquaintance swore he would vote Labour last October in protest against Dr. Beeching's closure of his local branch line. And yet from all the controversy and anger, Beeching has emerged with a massive reputation. I do not think the explanation is hard to find. Dr. Beeching always persuaded people that he was sticking tenaciously to the facts: that he was bringing his powerful mind to bear on problems unblinkered by any doctrinaire pre- judice, but with a firm determination to see the problems realistically and to act in the same way. Others orated endlessly about 'the modernisation of Britain.' He rigorously got on with the job. His physical size and his apparent imperturb- ability aided the impression of a man determined to deal with practical difficulties on an absolutely practical basis. So did his habitual candour about the problems and the remedies. There are lessons for the political parties in the ascendancy which he achieved. There is also a lesson, of course, in the fact that in the end Dr. Beeching decided to get out and return to private industry : but that is another story.
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