Motorcab Topics.
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tys contributions are invited: payment wif be made en publication.
Certain "Knowledge of London" schools are to be closed for want df men.
Three Brighton motorcab drivers have been fined for leaving their cabs unattended on a rank.
Dublin's " Anti-Taxi Association" holds regular weekly meetings. The business before the last meeting consisted of the passing of a vote of condolence for the relatives of a late member, and for a member upon the death of his father.
We understand that the bonuses, which have for some time past been elTered by the proprietors of the "W. and G." inotorcabs to their drivers, and of which we gave particulars in our issue of the 19th January, are to be discontinued at the end of the present month.
In the course of a speech by Mr. Harvey du Cros, at the fourth annual dinner of the staff of the Dunlop Tyre Co., some remarkable figures were quoted with regard to the life of Dunlop tires on "W. and G." taxicabs. It was stated that. the average life of the groovedpattern tire is 9,000 miles.
We occasionally come across records of remarkable tire mileages that have been achieved by driverowners. A case came under our notice this week in which one such proprietor has had two tires in hard work on his cab for over six months, and this with an average mileage for that period of 60 miles per day during the six-day week., There is no doubt that tires have a very much better time of it in the hands of driver-owners than they do in those of many of the employees of some larger companies. In addition to the vehicles belonging to the British Motor Cab Co., the petrol depot of the Thames Bank Motor Spirit Co. is used by a large number of machines belonging to other companies and owners.
Elsewhere in this issue will be found a short illustrated description of a new 5,000-gallon petrolstorage installation which has just been completed for the GamageBell Motor Cab Co., Ltd., by the Steel Barrel Co., Ltd., . of Uxbridge.. Other owners please note.
Rotherham Town Council has authorized the chairman of the Watch Committee, the vice-chairman, the Town Clerk, and the Chief Constable to deal with the question of arranging for an increased taxicab service in the borough, and with the fixing of the fares.
London Drivers' Grievances.
The Rt. Hon. John Burns recently received a deputation from the London Cab Drivers' Trade Union. The principal matters that were discussed included : the carrying forward of endorsements, for offences under the Motor Car Act of 1903, on the L.C.C. licences from year to year ; the payment of 10s. per annum for two licences— the police and the L.C.C. ; and the prohibition of empty motorcabs from crossing the Royal Parks. The cause of this last complaint has since been removed. It should be remembered that police licences are issued free from old endorsements. Mr. Burns promised to consult with the Home Secretary upon the matters brought before him by the men's representatives. Mr. Samuel Hunt, of Portiahead, has secured licences for two taxicabs. An application by Mr. Allen Jenkins for four permits has been withdrawn in view of Mr. Hunt's action.
Unwelcome Similarity.
We reproduce on this page two photographs ot London taxicabs ; these appear, at first glance, both to belong to the Acton "W. and G." fleet. A closer inspection, however, will reveal the fact that one of the machines does not belong to that company ; the initials on its door-panel will be found to be " W.E.C.," although these are written in such a manner as closely to resemble the "W. and G." so familiar on the Napiers and Panhards of the Acton company. The colouring and general finish of the
cabs closely approximate those of the "W. and G." vehicles, and, to say the least of it, it should be taken as a tribute to the popularity of the last-mentioned machines, that their appearance has been copied as closely as possible by quite a considerable number of smaller owners in London. This practice does not seem to be quite "cricket," although it is difficult to insist that the smaller owner has not a right to please himself in the matter. Regrettable confusion, however, is occasionally caused on account of this similarity of painting. We gave an instance of this in our issue of the 23rd ult., when a " W.E.C." cab was unhesitatingly identified as being one belonging to the large company. In addition to the initials and the paintwork, these vehicles sport the Union Jack.