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The amalgamntion is announced of two ot the principal London Cabdrivers' trade unions: The Motor-Cab Drivers' Protection Assoeiation and the London Cabdrivers' Trade Union.
The Cabdrivers' Benevolent.
On Wednesday of last ‘veek, at the annual dinner ot the Cabdrivers' Benevoleet Association, at which the Duke of Rutland presided, attention e as drawn to the amount of distress whieh was prevalent amongst the elder men who are engaged in earning a livelihood as horse-cabdrivers. The Duke of Rutland, in the course of his
speech, mentioned that at the present time there are 1,103 London drivers who are between 60 and 70 years of age, 190 between 70 and 80, and six who are over 80 years of age. Over 109 rrandidates are now seeking to participate in the benefits of the association. It is interesting to note that, amongst the subscriptions, which totalled 1,350, and which were announced
' the dinner, a donation of 50 guineas was included from the General Motor Cab Co.. Ltd., and £25 from the \LT.
The Commissioner's Discretion. In our issue for the 17th November, we mentioned an application which was then before the Lord Chief Justice, eith reference to a refusal of the Commissioner of Police to issue leeeeee to the Mutual Taxicab Supply Co., on the ground that this latter concern could not in law be considered
as the actual lieencees. A rule was then granted for a mandamus to be issued to the Commissioner of Police that he should show cause why he sheeld not grant a licence to the Muted Company. The matter has now been settled by the Lord Chief Jut4iee. in concurrence with Justices Pickford and Avery, sitting as a King's Bench Divisional Court, as the result of all action. King V. Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis. Mr. Danckwerts, N.C., who appeared for the Commiesiover of Police; said that tlint official lind come to the conelusimi that he had the discretion of saying whether or not the request of the secretary of the company was one to which he could accede. He had else come to the conclusion that the Mum tuil Taxicab Supply Co., Ltd., was not I:ow in a se-mud financial position arel moreover that the cabs were not the eroperty of the company. The Teee! Chief Jnstiu e. in his judgment, It' ode the imprtaut decision that the
issioner of Police had discretion as to the granting of licences. It could not, he said, be agreed that when a person applied for a licence and tendered his .C2 as fee, the Commissioner was obliged to grant it. He thought, according to the statutes, that the Commissioner had absolute discretion.
The Star Turn.
In the case of Henry Ellerington, a taxicab driver in the employ of the Genera I NI o toreab Co., Ltd., the prisoner was sentenced to four-months imprisonment it the second division, for a conviction on the charge of em bezzlement and the falsifying of the accounts of his employers. It was alleged that, in five instances, the prisoner falsified the readings of the taximeter by means of the well-known trick of temporarily removing the star-wheel of the recording apparatus. It appears that he had carried out this deception on several occasions without detection, but that eventually, as the result of a collision with a horse-drawn vehicle, a passenger took the number of the cab and claimed damages on behalf of a lady who had been travelling with hint ; this led to detection.