Tours business threatened
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• Reports from East Anglia indicate that coach operators are experiencing difficulty in making plans for excursions to London, when the p.s.v. drivers' hours regulations come into force on March 15. Theatre parties to London would not normally be back in Suffolk until after midnight, consequently there would be interference with the next day's hours.
In Kent, Mr Stanley Smith, of the Maidstone and District Omnibus Co, said that while initially they would be able to cope with the new regulations, the real difficulties would manifest themselves from April 10 when the annual holidays began. The company, to test the market, advertised recently for part-time labour: it is understood that if such labour was available, it was likely to be used on the less attractive local work so that the permanent staff would continue to enjoy the tours work. Nevertheless, Mr Smith anticipated a considerable reduction in weekend tours this year; he pointed out that the stage services must be maintained.