Rail Objection to Tours Criticized
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THE action of British Railways in opposing a local operator's application for facilities for football tours, while ignoring a similar application by the larger Scottish concern of W. Alexander and Sons (Northern), Ltd., was criticized by Mr. Walter Fletcher, solicitor, before the Traffic Commissioners in Dundee last week.
Mr. Fletcher was appearing for Hunter and Nelson, Arbroath, who sought permission to run tours to various football grounds in Scotland. The application was opposed by British Railways and Alexander and Sons.
Alexander in turn sought similar facilities and their application was opposed by Hunter and Nelson only.
Mr. Fletcher said he took "a very dim view" of the fact that this and other application had been objected to by Alexander and the railway, but when Alexander's application 'came before the court there was no objection from the railway.
If the railway were satisfied that an application by Alexander would meet a demand and they made no objection, they must surely also consider it a satisfactory ground for application by someone else. The conclusion must surely be that the railway were only objecting to a certain section of operators,
After evidence had been heard in the Hunter and Nelson application Mr. R. C. B. Currie, solicitor, for Alexander. said he did not propose to lead evidence in his case. Undoubtedly there was evidence of demand for' this type of service in Arbroath. That being conceded, it was a question of who should cater for it.
Referring to the British Railways objection, Mr. Currie said it would be only fair to say that if the Commissioners were to refuse any of the application by Hunter and Nelson on the grounds that the railway competition was too good, he did not think the Commissioners could possibly grant such tours te Alexander.
The Commissioners reserved their decision in both cases.