Motorcab Topics.
Page 14
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Mr. Frank Newton, of St. Giles (aarage, Northampton, intends to aam two Napier taxicabs in that town.
There will be no strike of Lonrdon taxicab drivers of any importance, as a result of the present in rest.
Many drivers, who left Brixton to drive four-cylinder cabs from 'other yards, have now returned to their original employers.
The Newport (Mon.) Taxicab Co. has one Unie, one Renault, one Argyll and one Belsize, which they intend running in Newport as taxicabs These are expected to be on the streets in a few days.
A motorcab driver named Willimn Henry Lewis, living at Shepherd's Bush, on Tuesday of last week was charged on remand with being drunk while in charge of a taxicab. He was fined 40s. with Its. costs.
The central offices of the General Motor Cab Co., Ltd., are shortly to he moved from Moorgate Street to Brixton. The few remaining houses still left standing on the " General " island site in the Camberwell New Road are to be pulled down in order to make room or new offices.
The Sunstar Motor Co., who have just completed a garage to hold too cabs in York Road, Ring's Cross, held its first annual dinner last week. This concern is what, as known as a. "mutual," and 25 .cabs have been already delivered to its members who are all taxi %havers. At the dinner, which was attended by practically the whole (of the 100 members, Mr. M. Wart(mann, the managing director, took the chair.
Messrs. Wilson Bros., trading as the Dublin Taxicab Co., Stephen's 'Green, Dublin, are to make a plucky attempt to introduce taxicabs into the Irish capital. Four Atistms are to be used at first, and the first of this fleet is to be put .on the Dublin streets next week. Bruhn's taximeters are to be fitted and are to register 2s. (id. for the
rst three miles. 2d. for each Efth of a mile or VI minutes subsequently, waiting time at the rate of dts. an hour and no extras. These (owners admit that they expect a great deal of trouble with the ihorse-eabbies, but they " mean to put up a good fight." Ac the Princes Hall, Lambeth Baths, Kennington, S.E., on Wednesday, the 25th ult., a concert was given for the benefit of Mr. William McWilliam, formerly chief instructor at the General Motor Cab Co., Ltd. Mr. McWilliam was a, well-known racing cyclist in the 'seventies, and Mr. S. F. Edge took the chair for the whole evening ; with him were Mr. J. W. Stocks
and Mr. A. F. Sidgreaves. For the benefit of a well-known cyclist, Jack Keen, Mr. McWilliam worked extremely hard, and collected £250. Mr. McWilliam started at Brixton in 1907 and left a few months ago. He was a popular official.
The Proprietors"Tecs.
Last week, the London Motor Cab Proprietors Association, Ltd., issued a public statement with regard to the methods that are to be initiated by the federated owners in order to keep an eye on the earning of " extras" by their drivers. A number of travelling observers has been appointed by the Association ; it will be their duty to note and report all cases where " extras " are carried, as well as the description of them. If reported four times and found not to have registered his " extras," the driver will be dismissed.
These observers were put on the streets for the first time on Thursday last. Two were placed by a hoarding which is erected On a refuge at the top of Whitehall on the south side of Trafalgar Square. The weak point of this method of noting the numbers of the cabs is that. observers can only confine their attention to any one approaching line of traffic where they can obtain a full view of the cab.
Do not belong to the Proprietors' Association.
Messrs. H. 0. and F. G. Sharp, who have a. fleet of Darracq and More cabs, sent out the following letter to their drivers last week :
Dear Sir,—
Although we are not a member of the " London Motor Cato Proprietors' Association," we find it necessary to join with them in demanding the registration on the taximeter of all extras.
At the present time we are day by day losing money, and all thinking men must realize that it is only a question of time before we shall he forced to remove the plates and sell our cabs or try and use them for some other purpose. We see no reason why the cab trade should not be put upon a sound and satisfactory looting, to enable the drivers and owners to earn a proper living.
This can only be done by the combination of the owners and drivers.
We believe we are right in trusting to the good sense of all the men driving our cabs to play the game, and in marking up all extras, as laid down by the existing regulations for taxi-cab fares, avoid -useless trouble and friction between the undersigned and themselves for the time being.
As above-mentioned it is only by the combination of owners and drivers on lines that are satisfactory to both parties, that any alteration in the existing regulations can he made.
With this object, we should like to meet all our drivers together and discuss a certain scheme that we have in view.
If the owners and drivers at our garage can be absolutely agreed upon a definite policy, a long step will have been taken towards attaining the desired end.
We propose to call this meeting at Lillie Hall on Saturday evening the 28th inst., at 8.30 p.m., but we want every man driving a Sharp cab to attend without exception.
We have invited Mr. A. Smith, President of the L.C.D.T.U., to be present. Yot?rs faithfully,
H. GORDON SHARP.
F. GRAHAM SHARP.
Nut. This was headed The Sharp Motor Cab Cu., Ltd., and addressed to each of the drivers.
The meeting took place at the Lillie Road Garage on Saturday night last, and was well attended. The owners' suggestions were eireulated in pamphlet form; we reprint them herewith :— It is proposed at this meeting to show how the London motorcab problem should and can be solved.
PROPOSED FARES.
Sixpence first hiring, distance mile ;
2d. for each succeeding mile. This is
equal to le. per mile. Waiting time reduced to 2s. 6d. per hour. No charge for
extra pasaengers. Luggage, etc., to be paid for on the present scale. Drivers to receive 25 per cent. of takings. Drivers to retain all extras for luggage, etc. Owners to pay for half the petrol. A limit to the number oLcabs.
Example from Cab LD4714, August 26th, 1911.
PRESENT SYSTEM.
Total on clock, 25s. ; nett. t8s. 9d. ; petrol,. three gallons at 8d. ; driver, 4s. 3d.
NEW SYSTEM.
Total on clock (allow Is. 6d. for reduction in waiting time). 36s.; nett. (less half petrol), 26s. ; driver (less half petrol), 8s.