Should Taxicab Fares Be Shared E question of the use
Page 35
Page 36
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
of private cars and taxicabs for hire or reward at separate fares has recently been brought into prominence by a case in the High Court. The Divisional Court decided that the sharing of taxicab fares was illegal and made necessary an express-carriage licence. This was by no means the first time that a prosecution had been, instituted on the charge that separate fares had been paid by taxicab passengers, but the daily Press had never before taken up the subject.
It appealed so greatly to the imagination of this e17 section of the Press that, in some quarters, the report was published that the Minister of Transport was to introduce a Bill to legalize the sharing of taxicab fares. This report is undoubtedly premature, although it is possible that an attempt may be made to overcome the present anomaly.
Actually, it was never intended that the law relating to contract-carriage operation should apply to cases of this kind. It was designed to prevent unfair competition by taxicab proprietors and others with public-service-vehicle. owners, who have to bear severe statutory responsibilities. Whether the law could be modified to except from the licensing provisions a taxicab that is used for hire or reward at separate fares is doubtful.
This alleged offence is committed daily by hundreds of persons without any unfair competition with bus operators arising. The running of trips to the seaside with private cars and taxicabs, hired out at separate fares, is, however, an entirely different matter.
In our opinion, the logical way out of the difficulty is the intelligent interpretation of the law in the spirit in which it was obviously intended. Illegal competition with licensed bus operators should be checked, but the innocent sharing of taxicab fares by friends might well pass unnoticed by the authorities without bringing the law into disrepute. To attempt to introduce revised legislation to circumvent the difficulty would probably lead to abuses and anomalies, and aggravate the situation.
The Season for Long distance Coach Touring Opens
rr HE popularity of long-distance tours by coach, both in this country and abroad, is increasing to a marked extent ; even the Minister of Transport has stated that he realizes the value of such touring and does not wish it to be unduly restricted.
There is certainly no better way of viewing large areas with the acme of comfort and the expenditure of so little energy. Many people are inclined to believe that a coaching holiday may be something of a trial ; actually, with the modern, smooth-running vehicle, excellent accommodation and good meals, and no troubles regarding luggage, it is one of the most restful holidays which can be undertaken. This we proved to our owu satisfaction during a seven-day tour from Newcastle to Land's End and back to Oxford. The weather was unsettled, but caused no real inconvenience, and despite this drawback many of the tourists declared that they had never enjoyed a holiday so much. One or two had previously undertaken tours by rail, sleeping in specially arranged carriages, but apart from being more expensive, this class of tour cannot compare for comfort with that which the luxury motor coach can provide. The traveller can admire the scenery, read, sleep or chat as he feels inclined, and as the organization usually permits early arrival at the destination for the night, long evenings are free for sightseeing or other amusements.