Operating Aspects of PASSENGER TRANSPORT
Page 48
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FULL DETAILS OF BOOKING AGENTS' CONTROL SCHEME
Accepted by a Meeting of the Booking Agents Association, in London WE are able this week to supplement previous information given in connection with the new scheme for the control of booking agents. The arrangement was formulated in the first instance by the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association, Ltd., and provides for a sliding scale of commission, no 'compulsory insurance and an appeal tribunal composed of three representatives of the new organization formed to handle the scheme and three members of the Booking Agents Association, with an independent chairman.
As the M.H.C.S.A. cannot trade, the scheme is being handed over to a limited liability company, the title of which is, we understand, Associated Coach Owners, Ltd., with the following directors :—Messrs. W. F. French, W. A. Timpson, Speak, G. Nowell, R. Neal, It. W. Birch, F. A. Flin, Fingland, Allan, Briggs, G. Ewer and Allchin.
The company is to appoint, manage and control agents for the benefit of independent passenger and goods roadtransport operators, and to act as a general clearing house for tickets or orders issued by the agents. It is to act as an agent for the collection and distribution of money and/or goods between its members and debtors and creditors.
It is proposed that the company should be registered with 200 members, but this figure may, from time to time, be increased, a company, corporation or other organization being considered as one member. No remuneration shall be payable to the directors, unless expressly voted by members at a general meeting.
The company has the right to appoint all or any of the agents of a member, taking into consideration existing agents of the company, and with a view to eliminating wasteful competition, consistent with maintaining an efficient chain of agents.
Each member will agree not to appoint any direct agent, and the company will issue a common ticket book to every agent. Associated Coach Owners, Ltd., will forward an account to each member at least once a week, the account being accompanied by a remittance covering the total number of tickets sold, less 12i per cent. commission.
The agreement provides for the following scale of commission :—Separate seat bookings (singles, day returns and period returns) 10 per cent.; longdistance tours (where hotel accommodation is included) 5 per cent.; and private-hire bookings (upon the contract price of the first of any contract made with a customer, or in respect of private motor work obtained as the direct consequence of the agency business) 5 per cent.
The scheme was discussed in London, last week, by a meeting of the Booking Agents Association, when Mr. E. P. Bailey, chairman of that Association, was in the chair. Messrs. F. A. Plin, It. Neal and W. A. Timpson represented Associated Coach Owners, Ltd. After having been subjected to one or two minor amendments, the agreement was accepted by the meeting.