MORE ABOUT EARLY-SEASON COACH FARES.
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Controversy Centres Around the Publication of Schedules. The Price List of a Birkenhead Owner.
SINCE the publication in a recent issue of The Commercial Motor of some of the motor coach fares that are now being quoted by Liverpool coach owners, there has been considerable comment amongst motor vehicle users. One criticism that has been levelled against this summarized schedule is that the rates are absurdly low, and that the publication of them is calculated adversely to affect those traders who are striving to lift the motor coaching business to a better status, and who believe that it can only be achieved by owners receiving a return commensurate with their capital outlay and crirrent expenses.
Whilst sympathising with that point of view, the criticism is largely mis
directed. Some reliable motor coach companies are withholding the issue oftheir price lists, whilst other concerns, and especially those quoting the lowest rates, are resorting to just the opposite methods. The price list from Which our summary was extracted had been distributed on a very generous scale amongst the public and that in itself is the reason why some of the rates were tabulated for comparative purposes.
We quite agree with what many of the Liverpool coach owners have said,
namely, that the quotations are ridiculously low. That is undeniably true, but the fact remains that they are actually quoted, and business is being transacted at those rates. From the rates already published, it will be seen that bookings could he effected at id. to id. per passenger per mile for 28-seater coaches running on solid tyres.
So much for the minimum rates. Other owners at Liverpool, Birkenhead and 'Wallasey areaiming at the establishment of charges which seem much More reasonable, i.e., about lid to lid. per passhger per Mile. The price list which has just been issued by Messrs. Macdonald, of Woodside, Birkenhead, who operate a fleet of small coaches shod with pneumatic tyres, gives the following specimen qnotations:--Holywell, about 50 miles, Os. ; Prestatyn, about 70 miles, Ts.; Rhyl, 89 miles, Sc.; Colwyn Bay, about 94 miles, 10s, ; Llandudno, 100 miles, lls.; Chester, 80 miles, 4s.; Llangollen, 72 miles, Ts. 6d.; Mold, about 42 miles, 45. ; Ruthin, about 68 miles, is.; Bettws-y-coed, about 120 miles, Tu. ; Ellesmere, 80 miles, 85. Messrs. Macdonald have arranged a definite series of daily tours throughout the season.