Motorcab Topics.
Page 14
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We deal, at some length, with the recent Honie-Offiee announcements, on page 82,
More than 100 of the taxicabs owned by the Bristol Tranaways and Carriage Co., Ltd., were in service on Easter Monday last. Long-distance bookings were the rule.
A Heavy Claim.
The Provincial ntor Cab Co., Ltd., was sued recently, by Nathan Jacobs, a tailor, for £2,500 damages, in respect of personal damages. He was knocked down by a motorcab. Damages were eventually assessed at £201.
Passenger Control.
No more-foolish suggestion has been put forward of recent years, than that the ignorant and inexperienced passenger should be allowed to have some means at his disposal to control the movements of a motoreab. Any such provision would multiply accidents in an. alarming ratio.
General Motor Cab Co.'s Traffic Returns.
The current traffic return of the General Motor Cab Co., Ltd., is as follows: For the week ending Saturday, the 2nd April, the total receipts were £13,272, which is a decrease of on the corresponding week of last year.
At Aberdeen.
Campbell's, Ltd., of 13, Ron-Accord Street, Aberdeen, which company has recently taken up the local agency for Peugeot vehicles in the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Kincardine and Forfar, has added several more taxicabs to its fleet during the last week or two. The company also holds the Lotis agency in the district.
Pfleumatic Does Wen.
A Pfleumatie-filled tire, which had been run upwards of 5,000 miles, was recently cut into sections. -Upon inspection., it showed no signs of de
, terioretion, and it might have been kept in commission for a considerablygreater mileage. It must be remembered that tests have been made of Pfieumatie for two years past, and that the highest expectations of the manufacturers have been realized with regard to durability and wear. To these who desire a thoroughly-. reliable and unpuncturable tire, which shall he light and resilient continuously, at practically the same price as the air variety, Pfleumatic-filled sets will appeal strongly. The weight is only a trifle more per wheel than with pneumatic tires, and the market will be supplied very shortly. The company's office is at 82, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W.
Expert (;) Examination.
Complaints are being made locally of the noisy condition of certain taxicabs in Leeds. An intelligent correspondent of "The Yorkshire Evening Post," who signs himself " Fair Play," wants to be assured that, at the customary hackney-carriage inspection at Leeds, the " tires and engines of taxicabs " shall be subject to an expert examination. Why tires?
The Driver a Servant.
Judge Willis, at Southwark County Court, on the 4th inst., held that a motorcab driver, who had died in consequence of blood poisoning which followed a cut from the starting-handle due to a back-fire, was the daily servant of the cab proprietors. All monies received by a taxi-driver during his employment were the property of the proprietors—presumably, except tips, which it was admitted averaged £1 weekly. The deceased man's wife was given judgment for i',249, against the Waterloo Taxicab Co., of Lambeth. It was admitted by witnesses that drivers from this and certain other yards made it a practice to put into their own pockets all extras paid to them for luggage, or for passengers in excess of the two covered by the teitomatically-reeorded charge.
On Sydney Streets.
The streets of Sydney, on account of their narrow and hilly nature, and on account of the excessive cambers any but the right direction, have always been regarded as amongst the worst and most wearing for traffic; ninny people who were otherwise prepared to accept the commercial motor were sceptical regarding its possible success on this account. It was with considerable interest, therefore, that our representative accepted an invitation to examine one of the 8 lep. twocylinder Renault cabs which had been dismantled after six months of continuous service. During the period in question, the vehicle had travelled over 14,0(10 miles, and no fewer than six men had been taught to drive on it; yet, on examination, the engine bearings and crankshaft were in perfect condition, whilst the gears showed practically no sign of wear. In fact, the only wear that had taken place was in the bearing on the differential shaft, which had to be renewed after a little over three months running.
Such a performance should speak volumes with regard to the practical scope for commercial motors an Sydney streets.
New Registrations.
Radmore, Ltd., with an authorized capital of £2,000 in £1 shares, and with its office at 9, Regent Street, W., to carry on the business of cab proprietors. The Coventry Motor Cab Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £2,000 in V. shares, by Jordan and Sons, Ltd., to carry on the business of motorbus, motorcab, motorcar, and rnotorvan proprietors, etc. The Stoke-on-Trent Motor and Taxi-Cab Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £5,000 in £1 shares, and with its office at 18, Pall Mall, Hanley, to enter into an agreement with F. W. Halliwell, as trustee for the Stoke-on-Trent Motor and TaxiCab Syndicate, and to carry on the business of automobile dealers and taii-cab proprietors, etc. Directors: F. W. Halliwell, Grand Hotel, Hanley; N. Reid, 12, Heathcote Road, Langten, Staffs.; G. Richards, Grand Hotel, Hanley; F. Tuhten, North Stafford Hotel, Stoke-on-Trent; and G. H. W. Chamberlain, Saracen's Head Hotel, Hanley.
Oldham's Determination.
The Watch Committee of the Oldham. Town Council does not intend to allow itself to be browbeaten by local horse-cab interests. The Watch Committee took some twelve months to make up its mind, and it then issued certain regulations, which, in our judgment, are in no sense unduly favourable to motorcabs. The inevitable deputation of disappearing horse jobmasters presented itself at the Watch Committee's fortnightly meeting, last week, and it had the support of a reactionary organization calling itself the National Horse Owners' Union. The secretary of this body calmly announced that his association was making a " determined stand against favours being granted to rontoreabs." Another way of putting it would have been—against the convenience and legitimate demands of the public. It is the height of self-interest to imagine that horsecab conditions will suit motareabs, and we are glad that the Oldham Watch Commitee saw through the devices of the constituent members of this deputation. The Chairman of the Committee, Councillor Hayward, remarked that "there was nothing but spite in the proposals and objections."