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Austerity in Coaching

5th March 1948, Page 22
5th March 1948
Page 22
Page 22, 5th March 1948 — Austerity in Coaching
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

rr HE announcement that there is to be a 124 per cent. cut in the fuel allocation to passenger vehicles employed on excursions and tours, and private hire, is a big shock to this side of the road

• transport industry. It comes at a time when the abolition of the basic ration for private cars has forced thousands of people to endeavour to find other means for transport. It adds to the problems of the railways which are already suffering from shortage of rolling stock, inadequate maintenance of the remainder and of the tracks, a considerable reduction in labour and difficulties with fuel.

This reduction during a period of great austerity in other directions will affect many members of the general public who have been looking forward to coaching at least to provide them with some measure of escape from Crippsian depression. Some who have booked tours or have hired vehicles for special purposes may have to be disappointed, and we know by the thousands of people who are queueing for tickets how popular coaching has become. A reduction in the mileage run is inevitable, and as overhead costs and a reasonable profit will have to be met on the lower figures, there is almost certain to be a call for higher fares or their equivalent. It therefore remains to be seen what sympathy will be accorded to coach owners by the respective Licensing Authorities. Despite the fact that they may have a good case they will probably have difficulty in achieving success.

In our view, there is little or no black marketing of petrol on this side of the industry. 1-lere, opportunity is lacking, drivers are more generally under observation, and distances are carefully mapped, so that any cases of excessive fuel " consumption " can readily be checked and their causes ascertained.

The move is probably largely due to complaints from people with vindictive natures, who have seen or read about coaching parties to races and football matches. When and if they try to book up for a coaching tour they will no doubt feel aggrieved if they find that their parrot calls for restriction have reacted upon them.

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