Frank Allaun Worried by Merger Tendency

from a special correspondent According to press reports, Mr, Frank Allaun, a member of the N.E.C. of the Labour Party (in fact his election was cne of the few bright spots at the Scarborough conference), is. to suggest that Transport House research staff should inquire into the recent trend of increasins mergers. He wants them to examine what effects this tendency is having on the firms! employees and the possible effects on the country generally. He is reported as saying on February 11th: "The spate is now becoming such a flood that in many industries control is virtually passing inte the hands of ene or twn companies, Within those companies there are one or two individuals who have effective control, We are facing a choice now between a privately owned monopoly end publicly owned monopoly. And the deciding factor is mt efficiency but democracy, because economic and indirectly, political, power is passing into the hands of a few people, Transport House is already planning to hold a weekend conference of politicians, trade union officials and academics on the City in about two months' time. Originally planned to cover the institutions in the + City, it is now almost certain that mergers will be »rought on to the agenda in view of recent develnpments. However, any discussion has to be seen to a background of the fact that it is the Labour Government which has sponsored the organisation -— the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation - which has acted as the midwife to many of the recent mergers.