Are Express Service Passengers' Objects Relevant ?
Page 32
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
INTENTIONS of passengers after 1 reaching their destination had no bearing on the terms of an application for an express-carriage licence, said the Railway Executive advocate, Mr. G. H. P. Beames, at an inquiry in Birmingham. last week. Mr. Beames averred that the West Midland Licensing Authority, Mr. R. Stuart Pitcher, had no jurisdiction to consider the application by Mr. E. H. Pillon, of Imperial Motorways, Droitwich, for a licence to run a weekly coach service • from Birmingham to the coast ports for the benefit of travellers with •return tickets to Paris.
No Jurisdiction in France After an objection had been made by Mr. Beames at an inquiry in February. the Licensing Authority had agreed that he had no jurisdiction to grant a licence for a service to Paris, the destination stated on the application.
The destinations on the application heard last week were Folkestone and Dover, or Newhaven. The Licensing Authority was invited by Mr. W. L. Dann, for the applicants, to impose such conditions as would restrict the use of the service to through passengers, who would travel on the same coach on both sides of the channel or be collected at the French port by a coach operated by an associated company, Paris Autocars.
In reply to Mr. Beames's objection, Mr. Stuart Pitcher observed that many coach tours were run to places where there was a special attrgction, and he disagreed with counsel that thepassengers' purpose in travelling to one of the English, ports was irrelevant to the application because it was for an express carriage licence.
The licence was refused, but a repre sentative of "The Commercial Motor" formed the impression that the Licensing Authority was sympathetic to the application and that he might have granted it had the period been limited to the summer months. It is understood that an amended application will be made.
In evidence for the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., Mr. J. B. Griffith admitted that Midland " Red " and associated companies would be willing to consider collaboration with Paris Autocars in organizing a through service. Witnesses had complained that the existing facilities provided by the associated companies necessitated changing vehicles in London and did not include an hotel booking for . the night at the port.
Two-day Trip • Passengers booked by Imperial Motorways would have left Birmingham at 10 a.m. and reached Paris at about 4.30 p.m. on the following day. A courier would have been in attendance as a guide and to assist with Customs formalities. The return fare, including the cost of hotel accommodation but excluding the price of meals, would have been £10 10s. An A.E.C. Regal with a bar and provided with sanitary arrangements would have been used.
Mr. W. Evans, for G. H. Austin and Sons, Ltd.. objected to the application on the ground that companies running Continental tours, such as he represented, would lose financially. He claimed that the facilities offered by Paris Autocars would be held out as an attraction to passengers to use, the service and so reduce the number of people on tours.