school, Cliffon College, whence he and while the Government balled our tobacco industry one of the highest been head of Brifish Leyland for 18 he proceeded to Kings College, Cam- the inefficienz Leyiand management, profit makers in me world also Thee major shareholder in bridge, In 1935 he joined the British chairperson Dobson said on his app- meant held had a long and successful British Lesland is the Government, via Americon Tobacco Corporation us a ointment that the idea of nationalisat- record of exploiting workers. Dobson Dob- director. As the present time he is lon fills me with a great deal of was also, of course, an enthusiastic of the Toucco Securities Trust and was described by The Times as an to none for making profits through He was selected to head British the London Regional Industrial Com- enthusiastic admirer and defender of ways witch might not be considered Development Finance, the oil giants of private enterprise system because the iate choice to head Leyland. ApproExxon Corporation, Davy Internation- basic motivation is to muke as much priate, that is if you put the interests ai, Foseco Minsep, and Lloyds Bank, money as possible and some of the of capitalism before those of working itish Leyland and left to fester in the ekwoods of Tory reaction where he ongs. But Leyland workers have right to know how many more bsons are ruling their plants. Most all they have the right to ask the bour Government whether Dobson s appointed to run Leyland in spite his opinions or because of them.
Pat Hickey, TGWU Shop Steward: •Dobson is racist scam. But the Labour Goverument and Wilson in particular, must have kaown what be wus like when they appointed him. What this reveals is the need for workers control to be elablished forthwith in ull mationalised industries. There's not sacked?
"DISGRACEFUL' Steve Griffiths (ALEW Shop Steward)
From Dodson's remarks it 1s obwous that the guy is mat of his mind. He orruchy tunes the Americen government i anticapisatist? As Jor shour bribes, shey're shocking and disgraceful. I'd like to see all the books in Brisish Lepiand workers. Then weW see where RICHARD DOBSON is 63. He has months.
the National Enterprise Board.
Government.
Minister, He was also knighted by Wilson, a somewhat dubious distinctIon he shares with the late Sir Erie Miller and other worthies. son wus appointed by the Labour president of BAT Leyond when Wison was still Prime mittee for National Savings.
Dobson was educated at a public Tions. " make a protest. chairperson of horror:
British Leviand as well as chairperson He is a director in Commonwealth occasion he explained he supported the Ar boss of Leyland, he receives a ways of doing that might not be people. salary of E22,500, Given his other considered ethical. like bribes, pre directorships his annual income must sumably.]. he well over 2100,000. When Dohson received his Leyland appointment, he described the prospecr of the working expressed surprise: 7 don't anything about motor cars, I don't nightmare" - other people's working know very much abour labour relas- week, thar is; and he generously add He provided a demonstration of this based on 'envy". In short Dobson has assertion in his first address to the the two main ingredients of many shareholders when he unleashed a bosses: ignorance and reaction. public attack on the Leyland workers:
In British Leyland, though relatively Labour Government should give him o few Industrial disputes have been knighthood and then the chairperson directly concerned with pay, so many ship of British Leylend, bat Labour's strikes have occurred with no benefit poucy rowards any industry at has a to either company or to the employers stake in is the priority of profit. In this that one is forced to the conclusion respect Dobson has a number of that the underlying reason is a desire to outstanding qualities.
Dobson received his knighthood for services to industry.
Dobson calls himself a Tory, and les, which have a track record second multinational companies: On one ethical:
On workers' conditions, Dobson has know week being cur to 35 hours as that idea of an egalitarian society is It may appear remarkable that a As a director of an oil compony he Wisonian had a personal interest in producing cheap cars. His previons career in the supporter of multi-national compan All this made Dobson an appropr
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 20 October, 1977 page 10