Links must not be missed
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HIGH-level discussions between National Travel and Wallace Arnold Tours Ltd are likely to result in an agreement over the practice of linking licences, the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners were told laSt week.
But Wallace Arnold continued its opposition to applications by National Travel (North East) Ltd to take over the express and extended tour licences, presently held by a number of NBC subsidiaries.
The applications, which were for the take-over of licences held by Sheffield United Tours Ltd, Yorkshire Traction Co Ltd, West Yorkshire Road Car Co Ltd, East Midland Motor Services Ltd, East Yorkshire Motor Services Ltd, United Automobile Services Ltd, and Hebble Motor Services Ltd, were granted.
For Wallace Arnold, Sir Frank Marshall said the organisation of National Travel was creating new methods of operation as a direct result of putting everything under one name. Unrelated services were being linked together, to create new services, without any reference to the Traffic Commissioners.
Mr W. J. King, commercial manager of National Travel (North East), said the highlevel discussions were taking place because National were conscious of Wallace Arnold's concern. They were likely to result in an agreed condition being attached to the licences of both National and Wallace Arnold.
Mr Don Jordan, group licensing officer of Barr and Wallace Arnold Trust Ltd, sug gested that conditions ought to be attached to the express licences preventing their use as a basis for inclusive tours, their use as a feeder service for inclusive tours at less than the authorised fare, and, in respect of all licences, preventing linking, without application to the Commissioners.
Evidence was given concerning the linking of licences and the offer of complementary seats to inclusive 'tour passengers on express services by National Travel companies in other areas. The chairman, Maj-Gen V. H. J. Carpenter, said although there was disquiet that the licensing regulations were not being observed as strictly as they might be in other parts of the country, there was no suggestion that National Travel (North East) had done anything wrong and the ' Commissioners did not feel it was a reason to restrict licences in the Yorkshire area.
Intentions to link and use express services for inclusive tour purposes should be disclosed in any application. The Commissioners would take a very serious view if such a procedure was not observed.