Operator Warned Over Continental Tours

8th November 1957, Page 103

8th November 1957

Page 103

Page 103, 8th November 1957 — Operator Warned Over Continental Tours

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THE story of a Coventry woman'F experiences when she booked a 10day coach tour in Switzerland with a concern which did not have a Continenta: tour licence was told to.the West Midlane Traffic Commissioners, last week. G. H. Austin and Sons, Ltd., Stafford, were called upon to show why their excursior and tour licence should not be suspendec or revoked.

Mr, Kenneth Burns, a traffic examiner said the woman was taken to Birminghair and then •by taxi to Stafford, where shi

was put aboard a Euston train. FronEuston she went by taxi to Charing Cross where she caught a train, to be put up lot the night at Dover. The next morning her party was taken by coach through the Customs to the boat, and the same proce

dure was followed in reverse on the return journey.

Mr. :Henry Backhousc, for the company, said they had formed the erroneous view that the Commissioners had no control over operation on the Continent. The complaints were that they had advertised and accepted bookings for Continental tours when they had no licence, used taxis improperly, taken passengers by rail, and used another concern's vehicle on the Continent. Austin's did not admit booking the taxis. After'being seen by a traffic inspector, he said, they were granted a dispensation to avoid disappointing intending passengcrs on two tours. They were advised that it would not be fair to break the contract with passengers who could be taken to the Channel port by train, and the Commissioners had been informed that this course was being taken.

Mr. W. P. James, chairman, said that although there had been a wilful breach of conditions, he did not think the matter justified suspension or revocation of the licence. He would, however, issue a strong warning to Austin's.