ASPECTS OF COSMOS TOURS BID
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Ti HE need for precision in describing the
persons for whom a service is provided, even where it is a matter of a vehicle being contracted in its entirety to a particular travel organizer, is stressed by questions that arose recently when the North Western Traffic Commissioners beard a joint application by the North Western Road Car Co. Ltd.., Birmingham and Midland Omnibus Co. Ltd. and the East Kent Road Car Co. Ltd.
This was for a new service from Manchester to Manston (Kent) Airport for "passengers who have booked on inclusive continental air and coach tours with Cosmos Tours Ltd.". A 49-seater was to be provided to connect with charter aircraft to and from Basle at specified times on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays, subject to adjustment if necessary should the aircraft be delayed. Cosmos were paying £50 per single vehicle journey for the 273 miles.
The latitude allowed by the terms of reference was a subject of objection, Mr. J. A. Booth, saying that if obtained such a licence could be for three vehicles a week, 52 weeks a year, for passengers travelling via Manston to any part of the world. In fact it would be possible for Cosmos to book patrons with other organizers of tours and such a licence would provide authority for the passengers to be carried by the special services.
Mr. W. Woolley (North Western Road Car) said that under the contra& with the tours organizer they expected to carry passengers on the coach just as detailed by Cosmos.. However, a condition Was accepted by the applicants,that passengers must be confined to , travellers by three specified continental tours that were the subject of the timings submitted—these being the Adriatic Riviera, Venetian Riyiera, Switzerland and the Bay of Naples. Mr. Booth said that according to the Cosmos brochure, £3 13s. 6d. extra was charged for each passenger from Manchester and an examination of the terms showed that this must be entirely related to the cost of travel.
Mr. C. R. Hodgson, chairman of the Commissioners, said that Cosmos had included in their holiday brochure a statement saying that they had arranged a special through coach from Manchester to Manston. This was quite untrue, he said, and there was no excuse for it being done. The Commissioners resented the company quoting the fares. Only the Traffic Commissioners could fix fares and in due course they would publish what those fares would be. And he doubted if they would be 34 gns.