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Page 56
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Cosmos Tours — the major operator replies
I refer to the report by Martin Hayes in the June 8 issue of CM.
I have not previously written to a publication and I am not interested in entering into a slanging match in this controversy. However I, through one of my companies Travel House (Luton) Ltd, was the applicant for the road service licence for the Cosmos British tours.
In view of the direct attack on me by Mr Varney of Biss Bros Coaches who, according to his statement, "has a poor opinion'' of me I feel it necessary if only on the grounds of fair play to place a few facts before the readers.
As the major coach operators for Cosmos Tours Ltd in Gt Britain, we had the pleasure of covering some half-million vehicle miles for them in 1972 and I hope that we shall be able to do one million in the not too distant future.
As an operator "whose back Cosmos is riding on" I would like to offer a few facts for Mr Varney to consider.
My Dunstable depot, from which the Cosmos operation is mounted, has a fleet of 30 vehicles of which not one is older than two years, it being the policy to replace 50 per cent of the fleet every year. My drivers and staff enjoy the following working conditions: 1. A high basic wage and good overtime rates.
2. A non-contributory pension scheme which provides for two-thirds of pay pension after only 25 years service.
3. A free private medical scheme for employees and their dependants.
4. An assured occupation (we do not lay off in winter months).
How many coach companies in either the private or publicly owned sector can match this?
Yes, Mr Varney, I am very happy that Cosmos is riding on my back and their passengers in my seats. One other point, my account to Cosmos is always settled within seven days of being rendered. I wish I could say the same of some coach operators whose passengers we rescue from breakdowns on the M1 and months later we have to threaten legal action in order to be paid.
I am no upstart operator who has recently come into the business and is seeking to change the world. I have been in coaching for 25 years and my company has carried passengers for hire and reward for over 100 years, and although I do not seek publicity, I like to think that my name and that of my company is well respected in the industry.
As a licensed operator, I have on occasions been happy to accept the protection of the Road Traffic Act and I think it is fair to say that in general terms the Act has worked well, but like all Acts of Parliament revision is required in the light of changing circumstances. It must be remembered that the Act was designed to ensure that road passenger transport operated in the best public interest. I am afraid, today a lot of established operators now regard it as designed solely for their benefit.
In my opinion, I think it is fair to say that the public interest is not being best served by the Act in the field of British coach touring. As things are, the established operators attempt to operate tours and also market them. In so doing they fall between two stools and do neither efficiently. This results in the passenger paying more for his tour than is warranted. I feel that my company can mount an efficient tour operation more economically by concentrating on the mechanics of it, and let Cosmos with their expertise, organization and experience in marketing, fill the seats. The economies thus effected must result in benefits to the passenger.
There is no doubt in my mind that this is one area in which -the best interests of the public would be served by allowing the fresh clean air of new competition to blow away the stagnant atmosphere created by the charade played out by the "establishment" wherein they claim to be in competition.
There is no doubt that with our entry into the EEC, a great new market of incoming tourists will be available to the coach touring industry, but unless steps are quickly taken to ensure a more efficient and economical British coach tour, this stimulus will be lost to us to the benefit of the car hire firms and other transport means and once lost will be impossible to retrieve.
So what are the established operators afraid of? Is it because Cosmos have avowed their intention to pay 10 per cent commission to their agents and that in this case no travel agent will sell theirs until Cosmos are full? Surely it would not be difficult to improve their efficiency by this small amount to enable them to meet this without price increases on their tours. Remember the labourer is worthy of his hire.
To the best of my knowledge there has not been one new operator of British coach tours from London permitted since the War. I suggest that it is now time there was.
At the hearing before the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioners, all the objector companies, in answer to a question, maintained that they were not afraid of competition and had only the public interest at heart. If this was said with any degree of honesty, I suggest that they prove it by withdrawing their objections and allow Mr Jones of Cosmos and myself to either prove our words or eat them.
J. H. S. BAGGOTT, Group Managing Director, The Costin Group, Dunstable, Beds.