Motorcab
Page 16
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Topics.
The application of Torkington solidrubber tires to the wheels of the fleet of vehicles for the Australasian Motor Cab Co., Ltd., is recorded on the next page.
In a paragraph under the above heading, on page 15 of our last week's issue, in reference to the purchase of 50 More taxicabs for London, we misquoted the title of the purchasers, Messrs. H. C. and F. G. Sharp, of Carlton House, Lower Regent Street, S. W.
Taxicabs in Nottingham.
(In Monday last a new scale of taxicabs fares came into operation at Nottingham. The new and old rates are as follow, the old rates being given in parentheses: per mile, 8d. (1s.); per hell mile, Od. (the same); from midnight to 6 a.m., is. per mile fls. 6d.); for more than three passengers, fare and a half (the same). The suggestion put forward that the Nottingham horse cabbies should also reduce their fares has not met with any response so far.
Taxi-driver's Dispute.
Alderman Sir Charles Wakefield, at the Guildhall Police Court on Seim.clay last, in imposing on Thomas Young, a taxi-driver, a fine of 20s., added : " I shall revoke your licence. Taxi-drivers are a privileged class, but only so long as they treat the public with ordinary courtesy.' It appears that, when taking a gentleman to Liverpool Street Station, the driver was held up in the station approach, and the passenger questioned the ac
curacy of the reading of the taximeter, which had registered Os. 4d. at the top of the hill and is. 4d. by the time he reached the bottom. The explanation was a perfectly-simple one, hut the passenger was evidently unaware of the time element in connection with the indication of a taximeter. Be that as it may, the driver was not justified in the use of abusive language, or in assaulting the police, for which offences the fine was inflicted.
A New Surrey Company.
The Sutton Motorcab Co., Ltd., has been formed for the purpose of operating taxicabs in Sutton (Surrey) and district. Unic vehicles are being used, and it was at first intended that only local labour should be employed; but, so far as drivers are concerned, certain objections on the part of the police have led to the engaging of "outside " men. Mr. R. G. Jeffries is the manager and secretary. The first one of the vehicles, wnich hts been purchased frm Mann and Overton's, Ltd.. of Commercial Road, Pimlico. S.W.. is already in service.
Taxicabs at Vienna : State and SemiN-State Aid.
A special company, known as the Maschinengenossenschaft der Fiaker in Wien, has been formed to work taxicabs in Vienna ; and it is of interest to note that the Ministry of Commerce, the National Committee, the Kaiser Franz Foundation, as well as the Chamber of Trade and Industry, have bound themselves to guarantee, in certain ratios, interest on the capital to be invested. Other corpor
ate bodies are also expected to assist in the same way, so that Vienna, which has " made an unco' leeway " in regard to motorcabs, should now forge ahead and soon be in possession of a fleet of motoreabs worthy of her size, importance and population.
Taxicab Agitation in Dublin.
In Dublin, among opponents to the introduction of taxicabs, capital is being made out of the unfortunate fact that there have been several regrettable motor fatalities in London during the past few days, and attempts are being made to alarm the population. Meanwhile applications for free tuition in the art of driving are pouring in as a result of the generous offer—following that of Mr. Harvey du Cros—of Mr. R. S. Bryne, the Dublin representative of Mors, Ltd., England. Mr. George J. Nearing, the Irish manager of the Darracq Company, is also paying court to the jarveys, and he has made an offer, not only to give free tuition, but to supply the necessary vehicles on the deferredpayment system, provided the requisite licences are forthcoming.
On the question of licences and regulations for taxicabs, a letter was published, in " The Irish Times " of the 5th inst., from a correspondent who stated that: " In official circles it was stated that there had been no definite refusal by the Commissioner to make the regulations. The matter had been under discussion, and the Commissioner was willing to provide for the running of taxicabs when it was proved that there was a public demand for them. The licensing of the vehicles rested entirely with the police authorities. There was nothing to prevent the introduction of taxicabs, as proposed, by the establishment of garages in different parts of Dublin. There was, indeed, nothing to prevent motor vehicles from plying for hire in the ordinary way in the city, provided that the regulations now in force in regard to public conveyances were observed, and the present scale of charges adhered to. The by-laws at present provided that motor vehicles duly licensed as stage, job, or hackney carriages should be subject to all the regulations applicable to licensed carriages of their respective classes. This did not apply to vehicles fitted with taximeters, for which a special system of inspection and control and a special scale of charges would have to be fixed. The by-laws would thus require to be re-arranged, and the charge woul involve an increase of expenditure."