The taxicabby had brought out a fare to Bushey near
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Watford—a matter of 15 miles, but, on being questioned about the strike, he relapsed, after the manner of his kind, into the usual lament about scarcity of tares, and he held out, in spite of a distinct atmosphere of doubt, that his total weekly remuneration did not " tot up " to more than 30s., and that the tips did not average fourpence a day. Very soon taxicabby proceeded to strangle himself, and to show the entire fallacy of these statements about tips and extras which have flooded the evening papers lately. " It's the daily expenses as mounts up so," he said, " it costs me 3s. a day outside for food. How do I make that out ? Why, eighteenpence my dinner, sixpence my tea, shilling my supper." When it was pointed out to him that, at six days a week, that left exactly 12s, weekly for his rest day, house rent, wife and children, and clothes, he tried his best to bluster and to evade the point.
The above incident is, I think, typical. The tipping system has already become too general, and I am afraid it is too late to alter it. As to the fact that it exists in spite of cabby's protest, let any one ask his own circle of friends what is their practice ; it will be found that taxicabby gets a tip which will average on short journeys about 3d. He invariably gets the is. for an eightpenny fare. If is. 4d. be registered on the clock, then he gets the is. 6d., but if is. 8d. comes up, the chances are he gets the 2s. I have made many inquiries, and I cannot find anyone who does leas than this. My conclusion is that up to now taxicabby has been somewhat spoilt. He must make up his mind to stick to his work snore and not to shirk coming out when it is wet.
I hear a short account of Caledonian enterprise, which will appeal, I feel sure, to many. A young Scotch engineer, by name McDonald, was convinced of the special merits of the Albion char-h-bancs and proceeded, three years ago, to Ottawa, Canada, to make his fortune, taking with him a second-hand Albion car. He very quickly found a purchaser for this, and now a company has been started, covering Royal Mail stage routes and carrying on business under the title of Motor Transit, Ltd. On page 511 will be found an illustration of four new Albion chars-ix-banes recently supplied to this company, all of which are now in regular use. McDonald and Co., Ottawa, are concessionnaires for the Albion vehicles for the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and are to be congratulated on their " grit " and judgment. The introductory secondhand vehicle, which was, first of all, taken out, is still in daily use.
"It is no trouble to us to send a motorcar to Ipswich to meet people," said Mr. Garrett to me, when I told him how long it took me to get 1.0 Leiston. For it does seem "out of the everywhere into here," but that is a practical scheme to send to Ipswich. I have long looked wistfully at this Suffolk townlet on the map and wondered when I should ever get there. But what a place when you strike it! I certainly had no conception that Garretts had a place run on modern lines and that they employed just on 1,500 men. Motor tractors and steam wagons form an important part of this old-established business, and in. an early issue I hope to see an illustrated article dealing with their vehicles. Meanwhile it was of great interest to be shown over these works and over Leiston itself, for the place is redolent of the Garretts for generations back. The men are well cared for, with an entertainment hall and their well-furnished club, the gift of the head of the Garrett concern. The works are surrounded by the town, and it is small wonder that old cottages are being razed to the ground to make way for extensions, but excellent housing is going up a little further out. I envied the enthusiasm of Mr. Stephen Garrett, cheerfully giving up a fortnight's holiday to camping with his company of Territorials, recruited mainly from their own works. This spirit helps to bind together employers and employed as nothing else. will.