Motorcab Topics.
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On Tuesday last the W. and G." Swimming Club held a gala night at Hammersmith Baths.
Several of the drivers in the employ of the British Motor Cab Co., Ltd., went to Kent for .the " hopping " season. They were seen
pole pulling" dressed in the company's tunic, breeches and gaiters.
New Registration. • Emerson and Bilton Ltd., with an authorized capital of £2,000, by A. H. Atkins' Ltd., 27-28, Fetter Lane, E. C., to take over the business of taxicab and carriage ptoprietor, formerly carried on by J. L. E. Emerson at Linnaeus Street, Hull.
Drive Me to Lockhart's.
A " British " motorcab driver, when asked at the House of Commons by an M.P. to go to the Law Courts, stopped at " Lockhart's " in the Strand. The M.P. spoke rather hurriedly when he entered the cab, and that was the explanation of the misunderstanding. He spoke more clearly when the cab stopped.
"I Said 'Very Good.'" The driver of a inotorcab, charged, last week, after a collision with a motorbus in Maida Vale, with being drunk while on duty, was put into the witness box, as the magistrate, Mr. Plowden, thought that some further evidence was necessary, as it had been stated by a witness that the defendant, immediately after the accident, bad telephoned to his employers for the breakdown fitters." When asked by the magistrate what he said, when a doctor had certified him as suffering from alcoholic excess, the defendant replied "I said, very good." A fine of Os. was inflicted or one month, and both L.C.C. and police licences were endorsed.
Selling a Chance.
There is a weekly ballot for a four-cylinder Unic motoreab in connection with one of the " Mutual " Cab Societies. It is interesting to note that these " ballots " are very often put up for sale, as the shareholders do not always wish to take delivery of the cab. In the early days, a " ballot " was sold for 230.
Missed the Last Week.
An owner-driver, we are informed, recently entered into a contract with two lady passengers, whom he had picked up in the West End at the end of July, to take them to Saltmarsh Castle, in the Malvern Hills, and thereafter to remain in their employ for nine weeks. The cab was a four-cylinder and the agreed price was 211 per week, food and accommodation being found. The castle was 13 miles from the nearest railway station. In the household there were 25 servants and 45 guests. The driver found that, during the last week, he would be expected to take all the guests and their luggage to the station. To use his own words, he felt that, considering the nature of the country, the number 01 guests, the amount 01 luggage, and the distance from the station, all that would be left of his cab would be the starting handle I He accordingly refused to finish the contract-, and returned at the end of the eighth week.
A GoodPrice.
A F.I.A.T. motorcab was recently purchased for 2240 after being licensed for one year. After a thorough overhaul and repainting, the Commissioner of Police granted a second licence. The purchaser had to produce a receipt.
More Argylls for London.
Although the New Park Motor Cab Co., Ltd., originally intended operating 25 of the new Argyll cabs in London, success with the first batch has led it to double the original order, so that it now has 50 of the 12-15 h.p. fourcylinder Argyll motorcabs, finished with high-grade, dark-blue, striped bodies, which have made its vehicles so well known in the metropolis and its suburbs. The new cabs, as their principal difference from the 1910 type, have worm gear for final drive, otherwise they are similar to the first batch turned out by Argylls, Ltd. Driver-owners are now taking to these new cabs, the London Argyll branch at 6, Great Marlborough Street, W., having disposed of several smartly-finished green vehicles to men who wish to run their own motorc abs.
The Trades' Union Congress.
At the recent Congress of Trade Unions, held at Newcastle-onTyne, the London motorcabmen were represented by Mr. A. Smith, President of the Cabdrivers' Union, and Mr. D. J. Davies, a "W. and G." driver. These two delegates were sent by the Executive Council of the Union and resolutions were passed asking the Parliamentary Committee of Trade Unions to assist London cabdrivers in the following matters:— I. Freer access for cabs to Hyde Park when carrying fares. This has been a grievance for many years, and, in view of the saving to the public in taximeter fares, it is surprising that a Parliamentary Order has not been hitherto suggested. 2. Hire-purchase licences to be in the names of the purchasers
instead of the vendors. On inquiry we find that the Commissioner of Police has granted several of these licences recently in view of the latest decisions in the High Courts.
a. In the case of private reports to Scotland Yard of a driver's conduct when following his occupation, which reports are subsequently found to be inaccurate, the names and addresses of persons making these reports should be supplied to the driver. This course is sug
gested, as cabdrivers are often accused of various breaches of the Police Regulations, and although very diligent investigations are made by the Scotland Yard authorities, and no summons issued in the police court against the driver, his licence may be cancelled or suspended by the Commissioner in the exercise of his discretion on account of some private report.. The driver claims the advantage of a public inquiry by a disclosure of the name and address of the informant.
4. Remission of the medical ex amination. This refers to the recent order for medical examination made by the Home Office. As the examination has always been insisted upon by the large cab companies, any further alteration in the existing regulations would seem superfluous. Only recently one of the companies has decided on a yearly examination of all drivers inclined to corpulency, owing to the risk of heart trouble, syncope, and apoplexy. Obviously the drivers could make no objection to this perfectly reasonable decision.