'Brochure like Times crossword'
Page 27
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THE 1976 tours brochure of National Travel (Midlands) Ltd was so complicated and difficult to understand that it was on a par with The Times crossword. It was impossible to see how an ordinary member of the public could make any sense of it.
This was said by Mr G. H. P. Bea/nes, for Smiths Imperial Coaches Ltd, Birmingham, during the continuation of the hearing of the company's application to vary its excursions and tours licences, before the West Midland Traffic Commissioners, in Birmingham, last week.
Smiths were seeking to amalgamate three excursions and tours licences. The application included additional picking-up points for eight-day tours; the alteration of the duration of a number of mini tours; and additional eight-day tours to Torquay and Paignton, and Blackpool, for the Isle of Man. (CM, December 12) Opposing were National Travel (Midlands) Ltd, Midland Red and Allenways Ltd.
Replying to Mr Beames, Mr D. M. Kirby, operations manager of National Travel (Midlands), admitted that many people might not understand the National brochure, but said the bulk of passengers booked through travel agents, where competent staff were on hand to explain it.
For National and Midland Red, Mr R. Tudway said the vast majority of National's tour passengers were in the over 505 age group, so they were dealing with the same market as Smiths. National was very heavily committed in the area and carried substantial traffic.
Granting the application, apart from the picking-up points sought in the Stratfordupon-Avon and Henley-inArden areas, the chairman, Mr A. A. Crabtree, said the Commissioners believed that when dealing with holiday traffic, the established operator was not entitled to the same protection as afforded to a stage carriage operator. It was in the public interest for there to be a choice.