The Grievances of the Taxicab Driver.
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We must congratulate the Home Secretary upon the changes which—in close consultation with Sir Edward' Henry, the Commissioner of Police of the. Metropolis— he has felt justified in approving for the benefit of taxidrivers and taxi-owners. It is ridiculous to pretend that troublesome conditions of working affect the men alone : any improvement or easing of circumstances is bound to react beneficially upon owners as well. The final abolition of the system of privileged cabs is foreshadowed, and it looks as though ample justification for the. permanent establishment of the " open" system had been provided during the recent period of trial, at railway stations and elsewhere. The remedies against " bilkers " are to be strengthened, in due course, when some reliable method has been devised, and a further step has been made in the direction of a Universal Lighting Bill which will contain a clause to impose the carrying of a tad lamp, at the rearmost point of the body-work or load, upon every roadvehicle owner. Everybody recognizes the stupid anomaly of the " red lamp behind " upon quick-moving vehicles only, and that a dangerous element will be retained until this warning is legally enforceable in respect of slowmoving vehicles of all kinds. Immediate alterations now take effect in respect of several details which have caused much_ heart-burning and inconvenience to taxi-drivers. We refer, more particularly, to the following: the absence of latitude in respect of meals, when the cabs are on the rank; smoking, either on the rank or at the wheel; pre-licensing tests by the police; and so-called "double punishment " after a con
viction before a magistrate. Certain " shelter " cabranks are now to he divided into two portions---tho " ordinary " and the "reserve," with a police constable on special duty for the purpose of issuing an official ticket to any driver who wishes to use the shelter for half an hour, during which time he will not be liable to be called to or with his cab, except in the event of the exhaustion of the "ordinary " portion of the rank by calls. As the "
fare" may smoke with safety, so may the driver now prove his devotion to the memory of Sir Walter Raleigh : the official mind has recognized that there is no longer any real danger of fire by reason of that duplication of action. Each candidate for a driving licence is to have four tests free of charge, and the right to two additional tests on payment of a fee of 2s. 6d. each. Finally, in order to remove the drivers' sense of grievance, in any case where an offence imputed to a driver is of such gravity that the suspension of his licence for more than two months would previously have been the course adopted, a Board, consisting of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, a chief constable, and another person to be nominated by the Commissioner, will hold an inquiry, at which the driver, either alone or with the support of witnesses, may be heard in his defence.