Private party operator warned on advertising and organizers' benefits
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REFUSING an application for an extended tours licence, at the end of a two-day hearing in Manchester last week, Mr. C. R. Hodgson, Chairman of the North Western Traffic Commissioners, warned the applicants that further action might be taken concerning their possible contravention of sections 8 and 12 of the twelfth schedule to the Road Traffic Act, 1960.
Georgeson's Coaches Ltd., Liverpool, had applied to operate licensed tours to Lourdes, Lourdes and Paris, Costa Brava and Lourdes, and Rome via Southampton and Dover. Mr. E. A. Whitehead, for the applicants, said the company had been taking private parties to these destinations since 1960. If a licence were obtained, the continuous flow of passengers would enable Georgeson's to negotiate lower rates for accommodation with Continental hoteliers.
Mr. J. A. Backhouse for Batty-Holt Touring Services Ltd. and Smith's Tours (Wigan) Ltd., produced a copy of the Catholic Pictorial newspaper and asked Mr. J. Georgeson, managing director of Georgeson's Coaches, whether he thought the advertisement for their tours contained in it contravened section 12 of the twelfth schedule. Mr. Georgeson did not think so.
Mr. Georgeson's secretary, Mr. J. Bruce, said he had telephoned the Traffic Commissioners' office concerning this point and was told that the advertisements were within the law. Mr. Hodgson, however, produced letters from his file showing that three years ago his office had advised Georgeson's that they were, in fact, contravening the law. Although Mr. Backhouse suggested tours which were comparable with those proposed by Georgeson's, Mr. Georgeson explained that his were primarily pilgrimages. They were usually organized by a priest who accompanied the party.
Mr. F. D. Walker, for Crosville Motor Services Ltd., Ribble Motor Services Ltd., Associated Motorways and East Kent Road Car Co. Ltd., suggested that if a licence was granted, the character of the tours as pilgrimages for specific parishes would disappear.
Mrs. E. Foley, of Bootle, told the Commissioners that she organized parties for the trips. Because of this, she did not have to pay for her fare or accommodation. Mr. Backhouse contended that as she received remuneration for work done for Georgeson's, though not in cash, she was in fact their agent. Georges on's were, therefore, contravening section 8 of the twelfth schedule.
Mr. Hodgson claimed that Georgeson's had provided "virtually no case". They were carrying out what was the essence of private party work and nobody would lose by their not being granted a licence.