THE - RAILWAYS AND AIR TRAVEL
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,,,—May .I suggest that the influence of The Spectator might well be employed in removing an anomaly which is both illogical and unwise ?
It appears that our four railway companies have imposed a ban on the travel agencies in this country which prohibits them from booking for any British air service, other than Imperial Airways. As the majority of these services are run in competition with foreign air lines on routes which do not compete with those of Railway Air Services it becomes a matter of public concern that a responsible body should act in a manner which can only be accepted as a breach of privilege_ Railway companies have, in the course of years, raised themselves froth private bodies to the status of public insti- tutions, and to this end have been granted powers and privileges by Act of Parliarnent. The object of granting these privileges was not to show favour to the railways, but to enable them the better to serve the interests of the general public. If then, by virtue of this position, they exert themselves, for their *own interests; to deny facilities to the public, they are, I submit, deserving of censure.
Liberty of action may be desirable in a trading concern, *but in a privileged_ corporation this liberty should stop short at that point at which it may interfere with the development of other .public services..
At a, time when .1-1.M. Government is actively engaged in the .speedy and efficient development of British commercial aviation, that ,a public cprporation should openly set out to nullify the ,potential good which may arise from the goodwill of the AiK MUnistry, and_ of the Treasury is the prosecution of a policy whjell is, both injudicious and irrational.—I am, Sir,
yours faithfully, , , , .
.109 Lauderdal 21fa??.sions, ,ft„ IN • ALELANDErt.
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