Motorcab
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A new fare schedule for metnrcabs in Edinburgh has caused some dissatisfaction amongst the drivers in that city.
The Watch Committee of Brighton Town Council is to transfer ten horsecab licences to a similar number of motoreabs.
For Inward Calls Only.
Kensington's new tab-rank telephone, which is being installed as an experiment, on a shelterless rank, will shortly he available for public use. All wayleaves have been granted, and the 'phone number, 437 Kensington, has been confirmed. A special type of instrument has had to be provided, and this has accounted for the slight delay that has taken place in the installation.
Knowledge of Berlin.
Our _Berlin correspondent writes:— " A Berlin court, which had to try the case of a inotoreab user, who had refused to pay his fare, because he had been driven to the wrong street, gave judgment for the cabby. The judges said that the user should have called the driver's attention to his error. I fear that a judgment of this kind will be productive of quite a number of similar errors, There is a good deal of humanity about cabdrivers. As a rule, mistakes it.Ek not made to one's disadvantage."
Despite the Tariff.
We reproduce below a pliotoglAph of a considerable fleet of de Dion taxicabs, ,vhich is in service in New York. The ehassis are provided with 12-14 h.p. engines and have all the latest characteristics of this well-known type. lt will be noticed that the driver's seat is on the left-hand side of each vehicle, National's Dividend.
The accounts of the National Motor Cab Company, for the 14 months to 31st July, show a net profit, including k745 brought forward, of L'5,555. The directors recommend a further dividend of 2,', per cent. on the Preferred Ordinary shares, making 5 per cent. for the period, and £1,000 is to be applied in writing down the preliminary expenses (to £5,391), leaving £315 to be carried forward.
London's Fare Schedule.
It has been known, for some while past, that certain owners of considerable fleets of London taxicabs have had under careful consideration the advisability of making application -to the right quarters for a revision of the existing schedule of taxicab fares. In view of increased competition and of the difficulty of securing, with older and less-elaborate machines, an adequate share of the public's patron age, the possible advantage of an increase of fare is being carefully debated by certain owners. The fear Lhat the Home Office might be in.dined to listen to souse such suggestion for , the increase of fares in London is one of the reasons which has been given for the sending of a deputation of metropolitan cabmen to interview Mr. Winston Churchill. Amongst other items of the agenda we notice the following :—(1) The inclusion of a representative of the men's unions on the committee which, at Scotland Yard, investigates appeals, on the part of drivers, from decisions of the Chief Commissioner. (2) That there is no need for drivers to be reexamined when they wish, to drive other cabs than those for which they hold licences. (3) That would-be drivers of mechanically propelled vehicles shall be given four chances, if necessary, at examinations. (4) That permission shall be given to use stronger headlights, if desired, on motorcabs. (5) That the existing meal-time regulations shall be altered. (6) A more definite ruling as to permission for the drivers to smoke while on duty. The deputation received no definite assurance from the Home Secretary on any of these points. A further meeting was suggested. It is possible that an increased fare would benefit the owner, but that the driver would be a loser on tips is certain.