There is a two-cylinder Argyll cab in London service which has been licensed for five successive years.
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The condition of several bridges spanning the Thames is giving rise to anxiety, in view of the continual passing of motorbuses and other heavy vehicles.
The wretched weather of the last few weeks has increased the nui. sance of splashing tremendously. We should like to see the Menu guard properly tested in London.
It is reported that a lot of the L. G. O. discarded motorbuses are to be sold for service in Lancashire— Lancashire is not gratified, according to the " Northern Daily Telegraph."
On Boxing Day it is estimated that 75 per cent, of the London taxicabs remained at home. A correspondent informs us that the majority of the takings of the drivers who were at work exceeded £2 on that day.
Hall-fares in New York.
One New York company announces that between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6.30 p.m., half rates only will be charged. The company hopes that increased takings will justify the new move, and give a fillip to business during the slackest part of the day.
A service is mooted to run between Derry to Moville and Greencastle, in •Donegal.
L.G.O. stock is at present the sensational feature of the market. This time last year the Ordinary
stood at 60.
The New L.G.O. Co.'s Garage.
The plans for the new L.G.O. garage at Richmond, which was mentioned in our issue of the 21st December, have been deposited with the Twickenham District Council. Five repairing pits, and a small fitters' shop are to be provided.
Tim.. Poor Taxi-Driver?
Provincial drivers are in worse plight, than their London brethren, writes one of them to " John Bull." By the reckoning shown, the driver is Is. ed. out of pocket on his week's work, and has to make this deficit up by tips. Possibly a " Business Driver is the solution The Australasian Motor Cab Co.
From the latest reports to hand this company has happened on a particularly had smash. £71,000 was issued in shares, and promotion expenses amounted to /1300. There is a deficiency of £20,000 at a moderate estimate, and a COMmittee has been appointed to investigate the affa'rs of the concern fully.
It is announced that a private Company proposes running a motorbus service between Leigh and Hadleigh, in Essex, at an early date
New Hawarden Service.
At a recent meeting of the Chester Watch Committee, it was reported that Mr. W. A. Shepperd had, at an interview with the Chief Constable, arranged to run a motorbus service between Chester, Tarporley, Farndon and Hawarden. The Committee resolved that licences should be granted subject to the completion of satisfactory tests of the vehicles by the city electrical engineer.
By-law Trouble in Bristol.
An attempt has been made in Bristol to obtain power to charge extra far es after midnight, and for additional passengers beyond two, which was unsuccessful. Certain new by-laws, however, will shortly come into operation which will leave it open to the owner to charge from the time the cab leaves the stand. The Watch Committee made representations with a view to securing that. the hiring and fare should be deemed to commence on the taking-up of the passenger. The L.G.B. informed the Committee that it could not confirm the suggested by-law as it was of opinion that it would be ultra vi res. Registrations and a Winding-up.
Southworth's Motors, to take over the business carried on by C. Southworth, at 26, West Parade, Rhyl. Capital: £6,000 in 21 shares,
_North Stafford Taxi, Ltd. (private company), with a capital of E5,000 in 21 shares, to take over the business of taxicab proprietor, etc.; carried on by C. S. V. Brown, at Stoke-on-Trent, as the " North Staffordshire and Potteries Taxicab Co:' The subscribers are C. .5. V. Brown, Newcastle-onTyne, and F. Collis, Stoke-onTrent.
At an extraordinary general meeting of the members of the Newton Abbot, Ipplepen and Tomes Motor Bus Co., Ltd., held at the Council School Room, Ipplepen, a resolution was passed to the effect that this concern be wound up voluntarily. Mr. J. Underhill, 1, St. Paul's Road, Newton Abbot, was appointed liquidator.
The General Motercab Negotiation S.
The circular issued with the letter convening a general meeting of the General M.C. Co. is interesting in view of prevailing rumours. The meeting itself on the 28th December was purely formal, arid held merely to comply with the Act. " In view of certain negotiations now in progress,remarks the circular, "this meeting should be adjourned . . . . until the negotiations have been concluded." A resolution of adjournment was passed, the probable date of the next meeting being towards the end of February or the beginning of March, when the Board expects to submit a proposition resulting from the negetiations.
Our Traffic Table.
We this week purposely withhold publication of our usual comparative table of London traffic returns, in order to ascertain if such omission would meet with the approval of the majority of our readers. The compilation will be resumed if we receive sufficient assurance that its usefulness is maintained.
A Coroner's Comment.
Summing up at an inquest on a woman who had received fatal injuries from being run over by a motorbus the coroner remarked "I don't know, I'm sure, what were coming to in regard to this traffic question." An intelligent perusal of this journal for a few weeks would remove any doubtfulness of the coroner on the matter.
_ An Honourable Retirement.
The monthly comparative chart which we have, for the past three years published with a view to affording comparative data of the progress of the motorbus industry in London, will be discontinued. We shall, in future, from time to time, publish the gross total of licensed London motorbuses, with, perhaps, comparisons to similar periods in previous years.
The L.C.C.M.C.S., Ltd.
The London Cabdrivers Trade Union has formed a company which is entitled the London Cabdrivers' Co-operative Motor Cab Society, Ltd. There is no information yet to hand that the company has been registered at Somerset House. The articles of association should be interesting reading. The preliminary particulars have been issued by a committee of three, consisting of Messrs. D. J. Davies, S. T. Kirby and J. Somerville.
News of the Paris Strike.
Atter a month ot comparative caun, devetopments are expected in late .1. aria taxicao worm, following tile last meeting of tile strnse committee. The 8.1,8,601/lent of une U0111. pagnie Francaise as to the employnient of free-lance ctriver8 su Li) nave agitated the leaders, a largo number of men gathered before tim company a garage on the 29t1i, and prevented cabs from being taken out. The latest bankruptcy lists include /2 taxi-proprietors, but their position has not been influenced by the strike, for the petitions were hind several months ago. A Paris authority writing on the situation makes some interesting points. He says: "The causes or bankruptcy of the small proprietors are two : firstly the competition ot the large companies ; and secondly the superfluous number of garages, chauffeurs and mechanics. Scores of young fellows pour in from the provinces and enter the industry. They are bad drivers, and their number lessens the profit for all." As a remedy, he advocates the checking of this provincial influx.
The men who are at present working express themselves, as highly satisfied, and, far from grumbling at contributing Ss. per day, announce their willingness to pay twice as much in order to continue the harvest. They are on the run from morning till night and take from £3 to £4 a day with ease.
The Arbitrators.
The L.C.D.T.U. held a meeting at Caxton Hall on New Year's Eve to place before its members the recommendations they are bringing before the Board of Trade Arbitration Committee consisting of Viscount St. Aldwyri, chairman (formerly Sir Michael Hicks Beach—at one time Chancellor of the Exchequer), Mr. L. A. Martin, managing director of Hy. Tate and Sons, Ltd., and Mr. C. W. Bowerman, M.P., secretary of the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress. The first sitting of the Court of Arbitration wilt take place on the 9th January.
The proprietors and the drivers will be allowed to make suggestions as to alteration in the present taxicab tariff, but the main question at issue is of course the conditions under the existing scale of fares, the " extras " and the 5d. per day now paid by the drivers. We think, in view of the recommendations of the Departmental Committee last year, that the tariff is not likely to be increased, but that the arbitrators may recommend an increase in the daily payment for "extras and that the account between the proprietors and the drivers will then have to be worked out on a mileage basis. We believe that a reduction in the charge for waiting will he recommended by the Court.