Newspaper ads quoted in Kilmarnock tours clash
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• The Scottish Traffic Commissioners reserved their decision last week in the application of J. C. Docherty, of Kilmarnock, for a series of tours, day and extended, from Kilmarnock. Western SMT and Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society were among the original objectors at hearings on April 27 and June 8. The case had been continued to permit Western to lodge further information on the extent of tours operated from Kilmarnock. This they had done in the interval.
Resuming the application for Docherty, Mr James Law submitted a book record of cuttings from the Kilmarnock Standard showing Western and SCWS advertising of tours in the present year. Mr R. Farrell, for the objectors, claimed that this was new evidence and should not be considered. Mr A. B. Birnie, presiding, said that they were not bound by rules or forms of procedure. If anything could be added the Commissioners were prepared to hear it. If the information produced was published by the objectors they would recognize it as their own. The book of advertisements did show. said Mr Law, what the objectors had actually operated as opposed to what they were entitled,to operate.
In submissions, Mr Farrell said that the SCWS 'covered 44 tours and Western 86. They jointly covered all the destinations proposed by Docherty with the exception of Windermere, and would go to Windermere if public demand required. The existing operators were offering a very wide programme. The touring season at Kilmarnock was short and any new operator would cream off the best of the business. A new applicant should not be allowed to come in in these circumstances.
For Docherty, Mr James Law said that he was not concerned with the size of their licence but the use made of it. The SCWS had closed its office in Kilmarnock and did not operate from there at all. While holding a large number of licences it had only operated for two days in the early season and three weeks in the summer. Western SMT appeared to be concentrating on sporting fixtures on Saturdays; what it claimed to be a tour to Blackpool was actually a stage service from Glasgow to Blackpool via Kilmarnock and not an all-embracing tour.
Judgment was reserved.