NATIONALISATION PLANS

Chronicle (Levin), 13 June 1946, Page 5

NATIONALISATION PLANS

Press Assn.-

Coal, Electricity, Transport And Gas BRITISH LABtHJR'S SCHEME

By Telegraph

■Copyright

LONDON, June 11. "Tlie Coal Bill is a bolcl anc andaeious experiment npon whieh the future of the Labour Party might depend," said the Minister for Fnel (Mr. Shinwe]l) at a Labonr Party conference at Bourne-. rnouth when introducing the exccutive committee's report on the soclalisation programme. Wliatever terms of compensation were arranged, Mr. Shinwell was convinced that the nationalisation of the mines would he a financial success. l't was imper'ativc that they must not be subsidiscd by the Exchequer. The (Jovernment intended to nationalise electricity and Mr. Shinwell said he was prcparing a I >111 to make electricity available to every person and industrv whieh desired it. The nationalisation of the gas industry wonLl f oi! ow. The nationalisation schemes, taken hy and hirgc, must not be subsidised by the Exchequer Later within the present Parliament the Government would take the gas industry "in its stride". Once the Government had nationaliscd coal, electricity and gas under the aegis of ihe National Fuel and Power Corporation, it would liave at its disposal an in strumont of great poAver and influcncc and eould proceed furtlicr along tlie patli of nationalisation.

"We propose to doal with tlu transport industry. Tlie raihvays il.' they are to pay their way, eannot Iie divorced from road transport. This will he ombodied in the legislation and bocome an actual fact vcry soon. The same npplies to iron and steel." Warning that the opponents of' nationalisation were still strona and influent.ial, Mv. -Shimwell said that the remaining intluence of power might later reflect itsolf in Ihe Ilouse of Lords. If it did, tlmLabour Party must be ready to fight.