Volume Four - An Era of Change, Uncertainty, Depression & War - Penarth Dock closure in 1936 . . .

To my mind and in the minds of many of my political friends it is disastrous that at a time when everybody concerned with the welfare of South Wales are doing their utmost to encourage new industries—to extend our present trade—to remedy our present deplorable conditions—that the Great Western Railway—in order to save a comparatively small sum of about £20,000 a year—and at a time when the company as a whole is paying dividends to its shareholders and enjoying the benefit of Government finance should take this moment to proclaim to the world that their sense of obligation to the past and their faith in the future of industrial South Wales is to be measured by their decision to close Penarth Dock, cut down facilities, create unemployment and aim a fatal blow at an area already hard hit, which, through no fault of its own, is unable to defend itself against monopoly interests.

But what is the position and attitude of the Government in all this? Have they no responsibility at all in the matter? Are they going to comfortably sit back and say "this is purely a matter between local interests, the Penarth Urban District Council and the Great Western Railway"?

I confess that I was shocked when the Prime Minister did not see fit to answer the question I put to him the other day as to whether the Government had protested to the Great Western Railway when their decision had been made known, and I was indeed bitterly disappointed when I particularly asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer a few days later whether the Government would approach the Great Western Railway with a view to seeing if anything could be done to improve the situation—to receive no assurance.

I will not deal with the debatable question as to why the export coal trade of South Wales has declined—I must just accept it as a fact. This is the reason, however, given by the Great Western Railway why the dock is to be closed, and I require to know, in the first place, as to whether the Government are satisfied that they could not have influenced the Great Western Railway to change their mind; and if they are prepared to offer some financial assistance or practical alternative help of Government work to compensate for the loss of trade.

I have in mind, of course, the establishment of Government works in the area, parts of which are most suitable for such purposes, and which have been referred to in a speech by the Lord President of the Council. . . . etc.”