Commissioners Raise Tour Fares: Need for Evidence Disputed

2nd May 1958, Page 76

2nd May 1958

Page 76

Page 76, 2nd May 1958 — Commissioners Raise Tour Fares: Need for Evidence Disputed

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PUBUC evidence to support variations of excursion licences to add tours to provide more variety had never been required in the North-Western Arta, Mr. Henry Backhouse told the North Western Traffic Commissioners on Monday. Hearsay evidence given by British Railways and the express-service companies was, he declared, accepted as genuine, and an applicant's own evidence was quite as reliable.

Mr. Back house was appearing for F. Corkhill, Ltd., West Didsbury, Manchester, who sought additional tours to North Wales. British Railways and the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., objected.

Mr. A. Holt, a director of F. Corkhill, said their policy was to convert their excursions into circular tours. The additional trips were to Llangollen and Rhyl, and Bettws-y-coed and Llandudno, and were genuine circular tours, with stops limited to two hours at the coastal destinations.

Replying to Mr. W. Woolley, for North Western, who suggested that the new tour to Rhyl at the suggested fare of 1 Is. would circumvent Order No. 9, which was made to protect express-service fares, Mr. Holt said circular tours had an entirely different patronage and would not .attracfpassengers from direct routes.

• Mr. Woolley submitted that when. North Western reached agreement two years ago with the Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association on a fares schedule, the excursion formula was Id, a. mile for the first 100 miles and id. a • mile afterwards. On this scale the Rhyl fare should be 12s. 3d. No independent evidence had been offered and the express services with fares of I Is. to Rhyl and 12s. 9d. to Llandudno should have protection.

Mr. G. H. P. Beames, for British Railways, said they had objected because circular tours could be a cloak for direct operation, but from the description given they appeared to be genuine. There was, however, no independent evidence and applications put forward at the whim of operators, and not on account of public need, should be treated with reserve.

Mr. Backhouse pointed out that the P.V.O.A. agreement with the express companies was on a mileage, and not on a protective, basis, because of the many anomalies that would otherwise arise. There would be no objection to a revision of fares on a mileage scale.

Granting the application, the chairman, Mr. F. Williamson, amended the Rhyl fare to 12s. 3d. and the Llandudno rate to 14s. 6d.

CARAVAN CASE TO BE HEARD AGAIN

AN application by the North Western Supply Co., Sandbach, caravan suppliers, to move caravans for distributors was rejected by the North Western Deputy Licensing Authority last week, but re-listed to be heard again in a month. Mr. C. Welch, proprietor of the company, said that he had had many requests from customers to move caravans, but it was difficult to record them as they were mostly by telephone.

There was only one operator in the district allowed to tow caravans, the Harrington Caravan Co., and railway facilities were difficult to use. The Harrington company objected to the application together with the railways.

The Deputy Authority said that it had to be proved that a definite need existed.

DUBLIN FARES UP

BUS fares in Dublin are to rise on May 24. The minimum will be 3d., instead of 2d. No fare will be increased by more than Id., but stages will be shortened. Provincial bus and rail fares will be advanced by 5 per cent.

Coras lompair Eireann face extra costs amounting to £653,000 a year because of dearer material and labour.

Commissioners Raise Tour Fares: Need for Evidence Disputed

Page 76

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