Sliding Fare Seale for Tours Granted
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AN application by Shearings Tours (Manchester), Ltd., for a sliding scale of inclusive fares on tours to Devon and Cornwall, Bournemouth, London and Brighton, the Norfolk Broads and Great Yarmouth, was strongly opposed at Manchester, last week. There were objections from Wallace Arnold Tours, Ltd., Feather Bros. Tours, Ltd., and Yelloway Motor Services, Ltd.
Mr. F. Robinson, for Shearings, told the North Western Traffic Commissioners that the company wished to offer cheap. inclusive lours for elderly people who could not afford expensive holidays. They proposed a sliding scale from £10 to £1S and in some cases £10 to £20. Hotels were willing. to 'accept passengers at the lower rates out of season.
Mr. C. B. Thresh, for Wallace Arnold and Feather Bros., submitted that if the application were granted, it would disturb the balance of Operatidn in Yorkshire.
For YelloWaY, Mr. F. D. Walker said fuel prices had increased by 151.8 per cent, since 1948', yet Shearings were asking to run four S at 1948 prices. Tours based. on £10• .must abstract from the express services. Yelloway were not happy about any company haying a discretion about the prices the Public should pay. A low return on road fare, coupled with low-priced hotel aecommodation, brought a serious .danger of fare-cutting.
Mr. Robinson replied that the proposed tours could be run economically. There was no balance to be disturbed in Yorkshire which would benefit Shearings, and none of the objectors could offer tours for old people as Shearings did.
The chairman, Mr. F. Williamson, said the application would be granted with a condition limiting the lower-priced tours. to " before Whit Saturday and after the second Saturday in September.' This case was similar to the recent Happiways application (The Commercial Motor, January 17). If road fares were being undercut. the .tours would be inspected again when the time for renewal came.