• MODIFICATIONS IN TAXICAB REGULATIONS.
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The Order of the Home Secretary Permitting the introduction of the Two-seater Taxicab.
A S the outcome of an application to the Commissioner 11Lof Metropolitan Police to grant a licence to ply for hire with a cab seating two passengers, a Departmental Committee' was appointed to inquire into the need and the question of the advisability of licensing such vehicles. The report of the Committee was to the effect that the Home Secretary and the Commissioner of Police had no justification for refusing to issue such licences, and, moreover, that there was a need for a lower scale of farcs. in the Metropolis, but suggested that the situation could be met by the adoption of a lower scale of fares than that now in operation— namely, one shilling per mile far the first mile or less, and threepence per subsequent quarter mile.
The Home Secretary has conducted prolonged negotiations with the cab proprietors, who have been of two minds about the matter, and as they have failed to agree to a reduction in the scale of fares he has now issued an Order which amends his Order of October 9th, 1924, so as to permit of the' licensing and introduction of two-seater cabs. At the same time the Order generally has been modified with respect to the lighting of the taximeter readings.
The text of the Order is as follows:— In pursuance of sections 6 and 9 of the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act, 1869, and section 1 of the London Cab and Stage Carriage Act, 1907, 1 hereby make the following Order :—
(1) There shall be added to Article 28 of the Ordei'. made by the Secretary of State on October 9, 1924,
(a) under the aforesaid Acts the following provision:— " Nor ,shall he convey luggage or other articles on the roof of a cab not licensed to carry luggage on the roof."
(2) There shall be substituted for Article 44 of the aforesaid Order, the following provision :
(40) The fare for the hiring of a cab fitted with a taximeter recording the same by a combination of time and distance shall be in aceordance with the scales set forth in Schedules N•• and 0.
Provided that every motorcah which shalt ply, for hire at the lower of the• two alternative scales set out in Schedule N shall be clearly distinguished in such manner as the Commissioner may direct, so as to show under which of the alternative scales in Schedule N it is plying for hire.'
Provided also that a motorcab which is only licensed to carry two passengers shall not ply for hire at the higher of the two alternative scales set out in Schedule N.-
(3) There shall be added to Article 41 of the aforesaid Order the following additional proviso:—
Provided also that it shall not be compulsory for the driver to let his cab for the carriage of articles of luggage or merchandise alone, hut if he accepts this form of hiring he shall he entitled to charge for his services at the rates laid down in Schedules II, N or 0 for the conveyance of persons, and if articles are carried outside he shall be entitled to the extra charges for luggage specified in the schedules hereinbefore mentioned.
(1) There shall be substituted for Schedule N in the aforesaid Order the following schedule:—
SCREDULE N.—The fare payable for the hiring of a c35 motorcab fitted with a taximeter recording the fare by a combination of time and distance shall be according to either of the following alternative scales:—
(1) FIRST ALTERNATIVE SCALE :— (a) For a distance not exceeding one mile or for time not exceeding ten minutes, Is.
,(b) Exceeding one mile or ten minutes—(i) for each quarter of a mil:: or time not exceeding 21 minutes, 3c1.; (ii) for any kss distance or time, 3d.
In addition to the above the driver may be entitled to charge the following extra payments :—(i) For luggage —For each bicycle, child's mailcart or perambulator, 9d. For each other package carried outside, 2d. (ii) . Extra persons—When licensed to carry more than two persons— For each additional person beyond two for the whole journey, 9d.
Provided that one child, or if there be more than one, two children under the age of ten years shall count as one person.
(2) SECOND ALTERNATIVE SCALE : (a) For a distance not exceeding one mile or for time not exceeding 111 minutes, 9d.
(b) Exceeding one mile or 114 minutes—(i) For each third of a mile or time not exceeding 3i minutes, 3d.; (ii) for any less distance or time. 3d.
In addition to the above the driver may be entitled to charge the following extra payments:—(1) For luggage—For each bicycle, child's maileart or perambulator, 6d. For each other package carried outside, 3d. (ii) Extra persons—When licensed to carry more than two
persons—For each additional person beyond two for the whole journey, 6d.
Provided that one child, or if there be more than one, two children under the age of ten years shall count as one person.
(5) There shall be added to Part V of the afoi:esaid Order the following additional article, to be numbered 49:- (49) The proprietor of every cab fitted with a taximeter shall provide a lamp in proper working order and condition capable of rendering the readings recorded upon. the dial of the taximeter easily legible at night, and the driver of the cab shall keep the dial of • the taximeter properly illuminated during the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise, so that the readings recorded upon the dial shall be easily ligible by a person inside the cab.
(6) Articles 49 and 50 of the aforesaid Order shall be numbered 50 and 51 respectively., (7) Copies of the aforesaid Order made by the Secretary of State on October 9, 1924, printed under the • authority of His Majesty's Stationery Office, may be printed with the foregoing additions, omissions, and substitutions directed in this Order, and with the articles and paragraphs numbered in accordance with such direction.
W. Joyxsox-liteRs, One of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State.