THE COACHING TRADE AS VIEWED BY AN ILFRACOMBE OWNER.
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THE total fleet of coaches run by Messrs. Thomas Copp, 119, High Street, Ilfracombe, provide a seating capacity for 136 passengers. In all eight vehicles are operated, these including a 26-seater Maudsday, a 22-seater Mantislay, 14-seaters of Napier, Dennis, and Crossley make, an 8-seater Crossley, and a 6-seater Austin Twenty," the laststwo of which are virtually ordinary touring cars. Only one new machine is being put on the road for the corning season.
The narrowness of some of the roads in and around Ilfracombe has been responsible for the extended utilization of coaches which do not eeat.. more than 26
people. Vehicles of this type are undoubtedly preferred by the travelling public; moreover, they are extremely handy for day journeys of 160 miles in
C48 extent, whilst when the passenger traffic offering is scarce, such as at the opening and closing of the season, they enable journeys to be undertaken which provide a remunerative return.
The season at. Ilfracombe is extremely short, and for this reason large coaches are essential:. In the words of Mr. Copp : " These vehicles earn the money when. the town isOfull and visitors are unable to pick and choose quite so freely.".
The problem of local fares has always been a thorny one, and is as yet un solved. Messrs. Copp favour a rate which is fixed at the beginning of the Season, and is retained throughout the
coaching period Competition is .ex; tremely keen in Ilfracombe, and it would -appear.that the number of vehicle's seeking to attract the patronage of iroimay.-.
makers is materially in excess of reasonable requirements.
With the tendency of trade to mend, Messrs. Copp are hoping that the spending power of the public may be greater this year than last season but they point Mit that the question of tares and the weather conditions will be two important factors which will -make or mar 4 season.
The company would like to see Easter holiday fixed at a definite time; preferably somewhere about the middle of April. The Easter vacation is usually looked upon as the_ opening of theicoaching season,. although there is very ilittle public -patronage for motor coads tours until after the Whitstm holiday.
Messrs. Cialip would like to see fbe original period of duration Of the -Daylight Saving Bill re-established.