Motorcab Topics.
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Twenty taxicab drivers belonging to the Provincial Motor Cab Co.'s depot in Newcastle came out on strike last week, but the cessation was of short duration.
Owing to pressure on our space in this issue, we have had to hold over the special article on motorcab operation in the Provinces, which we announced last week.
There is further strike trouble in taxicab circles in Paris. This is primarily due to the recent new regulations with regard to the circulation of traffic. Any control of this sort would, we are sure, be irksome to the average Paris taxicab driver.
Still Conferring.
The conferences between London motmeab proprietors and the representatives of the drivers' union are still taking place. The last one took place on Tuesday last, but up to then no decision had been reached which could be made public.
N.U.H.V.O. Perturbed.
Before the National Union of Horse Vehicle Owners, at their third annual meeting, which this year was held in Manchester, Mr. Joseph Gibbens read a, paper on "The effects of Mechanical Traction." He believed that in some places there was still a residue of traffic for the horsed cab for town work, and that this would continue.
An Important Decision.
It will be remembered that, in the case of Rex v. Robert Messer, a taxicab driver was sentenced to six months' hard labour at the October sessions of the Central Criminal Court, on a charge of fraudulent conversion. An appeal was lodged against this conviction, and was argued in the Court of Criminal Appeal. An attempt was made on that occasion to have the verdict varied, on account of the fact that a taxicab driver for certain purposes is not a servant. Mr. Justice Darling, however, said that the appellant had not been charged wil}i any offence as a servant. There was evidence to give to the jury that the money was received on account of the owner, and there was also evidence that it was fraudulently converted. He dismissed the appeal. Taximeter La mps.
We have an inquiry from abroad for satisfactory lamps for the illumination of taximeter dials. We shall be happy to consider particulars of any new ideas on this subject and to forward those of which WE approve to our friends.
A Recent Registration.
The " K.A.P.". Motor Garage and Engineering Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of 21,000 in 21 shares, and with its office at 2, Arragan Road, Barking Road, East Ham, to carry on the business of motorcar, motorbus and motorcab proprietors, etc.
No Ranks for Willesden.
The Works and General Purposes Committee of the Willesden U.D.C. has decided to forward to the British Motor Cab Co., Ltd., a letter, which it has received from the Commissioner of Police, who wrote that he was not prepared to depart from the usual practice by making a separate standing for motorcabs at Brondesbury and Willesden Green Stations, as there appeared to be sufficient accommodation on the existing cab ranks.
A Small Proprietor's Takings.
An owner of four cabs, who worked them on the double-shift principle during the recent strike, informs us that he obtained a gross average of £4 per cab per day. In his opinion, the mileage per day under normal conditions is almost always about 60, and with that total the cost of running a cab is as nearly as possible Ns. per day all in. It is interesting to compare this figure with the 6s. mentioned as a similar charge by Mr. Randall at the Empress Hall mass meeting recently.
Plain Speaking.
hi the Westminster County Court, on Friday of last week, a taxicab driver sued the Gas Light and Coke Co., Ltd., for damage done to his cab in collision with a motor lorry belonging to the defendants. In cross-examination, the plaintiff said that his earnings were £3 a week. Asked his opinion as to the reason of the recent strike of drivers, and as to their statement that they could not make a living wage, he replied : "Rubbish. I make a first-class living with a taxicab, and I do not care who hears me say so." More "MutuaIs."
" Mutual " and co-operative cab companies are receiving a good deal of attention at the present time in cab circles. The latest of these is the Brompton Mutual Taxi Cab Society ; this has been formed on the usual "mutual " lines, with a small entrance fee and a weekly subscription. A ballot will take place immediately there are sufficient funds in hand for the payment of the deposit on the first cab.
Interesting Particulars of a Cc operative Cab Co. The Sun Star Motor Co., of York Road, King's Cross, is a "mutual " with 100 members. The new type of four-cylindered Unic is now being delivered to this concern at the rate of two per week. The manager, Mr. M. Wartinatin, informs one of our correspondents that the society was formed in October, 1910, and went through some stormy times. The membership at the commencement was 50, but this ultimately dwindled to 23. in March, 1911, 250,000 was put behind the business, and the first cab was delivered in May, 1911. This capital was lent to the company at 5 per cent, interest, and the cabs were thereupon bought for cash. Every transaction on the part of this undertaking is, we are informed, carried out on a cash basis ; this is, for such an organization, a most useful feature. When cabs begat) to be delivered, the interest of cabmen was promptly shown in the enterprise ; there were soon some hundreds of applications for membership. Already the company has over 20 cabs, and expects to have fully 100 by next season. All the "odd" men are members, and re• ceive 25 per cent. of the first 21 and 33i per cent. of the second 21. Each member pays in 23 per week for garage, etc., and £3 off the purchase price. A cab becomes a member's property in three years, but he contracts to garage with the company for a period of five years. Each cab is worked seven days a week. Mr. Wartmann points out that the proximity of important railway termini to the garage is of vital interest to the successful working of an undertaking of this
description, as thereby so much waste mileage can be saved. This manager is of opinion that a motorcab should never work on fewer than 320 days in the year.