Motorcab Topics.
Page 3
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. A number of single-cylinder de Dion taxicabs has been put into service in Bombay, with fares calculated on a cheaper basis than that for multi-cylinder vehicles.
Now that the " Provincial " cabs have been withdrawn from service ie Aberdeen, a local cab proprietor, Mr. J. S. .Rowand, is placing a small fleet of 15 h.p. Argylls in service.
Anonymity Barred.
We have received a letter signed " Art Ex Taxicab Chauffeur." The writer must supply his name and address, not for publication, but as a guarantee of bona fides, before we can use it.
Private-hire Earnings.
On Friday of last week, the Daimler Co., Ltd., sued the General Motor Cab Co., Ltd., for 10 guineas on account of damage ca used by one of the defendant's machines to a Daimler, 42 h.p., private-hire, motor wagonette. The sum of £7 10s., for loss of the use of the car, was disputed. The plaintiffs said that they made a profit of 30s. per day from the use of the car. The cost of running the vehicle was stated to be : petrol, 10. per mile ; tires, 4d. per mile ; wear and tear, id. per mile. The judge, in allowing £7 to the plaintiffs, said that he could not assume that the car could be hired every day.
The Price of Honour.
A taxicab driver was recently summoned at Bow Street for reckless driving and for not wearing his badge. The prosecuting solicitor offered to withdraw the summons for reckless driving, if the defendant would apologise for colliding with h the police officer who was concerned in the case. The reason for this action was stated to have been a "display of undue excitement on both sides." The driver refused these overtures of peace, stating that his honour was at stake, and the magistrate imposed a fine of 40s. and costs, together with an endorsement, for the reckless driving. We know of a number of district managers who are leaving the employ of the Provincial Motor Cab Co., Ltd. We shall be pleased to put anyone who requires the services of men with motorcab experience into touch with them.
The first annual general meeting of the Gamage-Bell Motor Cab Co., Ltd., was held last Friday. Mr. A. W. Gamage, the chairman of the concern, took occasion to explain why certain of the original proposals had had to be modified. The formal business of the meeting was amicably conducted.
Points for the Committee.
A Maida Vale cab proprietor, who owns a fleet of Belsize cabs, is letting out some of his machines on the usual 25 per cent. basis, others at a guinea per day's running of 60 miles, and a third for unlimited mileage at 41d. per mile. Petrol is paid for by the driver in all cases. Another owner, in West London, is letting his Darracqs to drivers at a charge of £1 for 60 miles of running and d. a mile for petrol. Certain Argylls are being hired at a rate of 40. per mile, inclusise of petrol and grease.
A Curious Mishap.
A Sheffield schoolboy has been awarded £150 damages on account of the loss of a thumb. A driver in the service of the Provincial Motor Cab Co. had difficulty in starting his cab, which was stuck in the snow at the side of the road. The driver requested a numbes of boys who were passing to help him push the car out, and while they were doing this he started the engine unbeknown to his helpers. One of the rear wheels, which was being pushed by the boys, revolved violently in the snow and so damaged the boy's thumb that it had to he amputated. The jury found : that the driver was guilty of negligence in restarting the engine without warning while the boys were pushing; that the plaintiff chose to run the risk without full apprehension of the probable danger of injury : and that the driver's negligence caused the plaintiff's injury. A new mutual taxicab society, which has its headquarters at the " Butcher's Arms," St. Pancras, has decided to purchase four-cylinder Utiles. The society at present has a membership of 50.
Southport Soon Donkeyless.
Some interesting figures with regard to the supersession of the hackney carriages by taxicabs in Southport are contained in the Chief Constable's report, which has recently been published. In 1907 there were three taxicabs, and 210 horsed hackney carriages. Last year there were '23 mechanical vehicles and 190 horsed cabs. It would appear that the horsed vehicle in Southport is not disappearing so rapidly as could be desired, but an interesting change is revealed in the fact that there has been a very-considerable decrease in the number of licences issued for public-service donkeys.
London Taxicab Conditions : Home Office Inquiry Instituted.
The Home Secretary has appointed a committee to inquire and report whether any alteration is desirable in the scale of fares for London taxicabs and whether any modification of the prevailing arra.ngements between drivers and owners should be recommended. The committee comprises Sir Archibald Williamson, Bart., M.P. (Chairman), Sir Clarendon Hyde (Board of Trade Committee of Arbitration), Colonel A. H. M. Edwards (Metropolitan Police). Mr. W. H. Kendall, New Scotland Yard, is appointed secretary.
The Home Secretary has announced that the recent decision of the House of Lords that taxicab drivers are not workmen within the meaning of the Workmen's Compensation Act does not decide that these men are not entitled to the benefits of that Act. The question of contract between drivers and men is to be considered by the new committee, We deal with the general aspects of the London taxicab problem on the first page of this issue.