4 SEPTEMBER 1964, Page 20

FEW CHEERS FOR THE AA

SIR,—It is a pity that Lord Brentford hides behind expressions such as the 'general consensus of opinion' (of members) as he states earlier in his letter that only those who have a grumble take the trouble to write.

I get the impression that both the AA and the RAC are run by conservative old gentlemen, justly proud of their road patrols and committee work, who will not adopt the radical approach which would make a really effective motoring organisation. An organisa- tion which will hound the Minister of Transport until he states who has priority at roundabouts (it doesn't much matter who has priority as long as someone does). An organisation which will recom- mend a particular hotel because they will cook you a meal at 10 p.m. and provide a clean towel with which you can have a wash, and identify those places that are merely there.

The AA and RAC could improve the whole cater- ing trade in this country if only they would drop their present 'blanket' classification. Why, Lord Brentford, do the varying standards of hotels abroad make classification a difficult problem? In this country and abroad we want to know what the standard is and how much it will cost. The Michelin Guide can tell us--why not the AA Handbook?