Motorcab ' Topics.
Page 7
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All the small garage proprietors catering for the owner-driver are seeking for more commodious premises.
2600 of the capital of the pro lection fund of the Cabmen's Union is to be transferred to the war chest." ready for the next imbroglio."
Peace for £1.
A driver employed by the British Motor Cab Co., Ltd., who took a cab out during the recent strike, obtained summonses at the Westminster Police Court against two of his fellow drivers for assault and threats. The offences complained of were committed since peace reigned in the cab world. At tie hearing at the Police Court last week the solicitor for the complainant stated that his client had decided to . withdraw the summonses, as he had received 21 compensation from Mr. Smith, the President of the Cabmen's Union.
Board of Trade Conference.
Following on last week's meeting between the London Motor Cab Proprietors' Association and the representatives of the London cabdrivers, a proposal was made that the various suggestions which had been discussedat their meetings, and which had emanated from the two sides respectively, should be submitted to the Board of Trade for advice and decision.
The approval of the men's organization was secured later in the week, and to-day (Thursday) a composite deputation representing the two parties who have been conferring, namely, the masters and men, is attending at the Board of Trade offices, when we hope they will arrive at a satisfactory settlement.
£925 Damages for Injuries.
Before the Lord Chief Justice and a special jury, in an action brought by Mr. Frank Phillips and his wife against the British Motor Cab Co. and Mr. R. 0. Wright, of Gravesend, the damages for personal injuries were assessed at 2909 for Mr Phillips and 225 for his wife, to be paid by defendants jointly.
The accident occurred at Keston Mark, Kent, in April last. During the case, evidence was given that the plaintiff Mr. Phillips was at one time clerk to the Claims Department of the British Motor Cab CO., Ltd., and in addition acted as an outside uniformed attendant at the London Pavilion. The P tris Taxi Strike.
The Paris taxi drivers are still out on strike ; two companies have, however, given way and agreed to increase the percentage from 291 to :33. The strike leaders state they are paying out strike pay at the rate of 2800 per day. Daily meetings of the men are being held at the Labour Exchange, and these finish with concerts.
Birmingham Has Enouph Cabs.
At a meeting of the Birmingham Wateli Committee held last week it was decided that taxicabs should be allowed to stand on all authorized stands in the city when vacancies occurred. It was also reported, at the same meeting, that no applications for licences for new taxicabs had been received and that five plates had been returned.
Scarborough Publishes the Banns.
At a recent meeting of the Scarborough Cabmen's Association it was decided to send a deputation to the Town Council requesting it, to refrain from granting licences to taxicabs on the ground that they were not required and would cause great hardship to the horsed-cab proprietors and drivers.
Licences have recently been asked for three to xicabs for Scarborough, and this is the third time of asking in three years! They have now, once mor:,, been refused. New " British ers."
There are rumours of a new type of two-cylinder 10-12 h.p. cab to be placed on the streets by the British Motor Cab Co., Ltd. An experimental chassis, we are informed, is to be assembled in the company's shops at. Pimlico.
Co-operative Movement Spreads.
Co-operative cabs are to be a feature of the policy of the London Cabmen's Union for 1912. At a recent meeting it was decided that members, instead of taking the amount to be shared out of the protection club funds, should add sufficient to make the amount up to 21 each and should use the capital thus obtained for the purchase of cabs. The funds of this branch of the union are used solely for the payment of police court fines, and it is anticipated this year that a fully-paid member will receive 12s. 6d. as his " share." Already a number of the drivers view the suggestion with some degree of suspicion, as even if 21,000 be obtained in this way, the possibility of the delivery of cabs for every member will be a very remote one. Owner-drivers are also increasing at the rate of ten a week, and the co-operative cabmen will find the owner-driver a more dangerous competitor than the employees of the large cab proprietors. Most horse-cab stables now garage motorcabs.