Four new motorbus licences were granted by the Kempston Urban District Council (Beds.), and all expiring ones renewed.
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The L.G.O.C. has we are informed, effected the sale of 35 of its " E type " second-hand Milnes Daimler chassis. Thirty of these are to go to Liverpool.
All the "Knowledge of London " Schools are now closed, as it is found that it is impossible for entirely raw hands to acquire the necessary information.
The receipts of the General Motor Cab Co., Ltd., for the week ended the 13th inst., were X12,155. This shows a decrease of £1,101 on the corresponding week of last year.
During one of the recent Taxicab Arbitrators' meetings at the Board of Trade. mr. George du Cros asked permission to give certain evidence in camera. The Chairman, however, refused, and said that all the evidence was to be perfectly open to all parties.
Altogether, at the end of the present week, six meetings will have taken place. and until these are completed the Board will make no suggestions as to alterations.
The Taxi-Drivers Social and Sick Benefit Society has a substantial reserve fund. For the payment of is. per week, sick benefit at the rate of X1 per week is obtained, and for 1911 the amount shared out per member was 3Ss, New Cabs for Bath.
At a recent meeting of the Bath City Council, 12 extra taxicab licences were granted after prolonged discussion. The Sanitary Committee was .unable to recommend that the licences be issued, but the full council has been unable to see eye to eye with it.
An early attempt to motorize the L.G.O.'s old horsed-buses.
Reproduced t ruin it unique ph”togruph of a steam direet-driven fot.e-earringe, which was deAgned to replace the two front wheels of an ordinary horsed omnibus. If any of our readers recoee foe this combination, we shall he pleased ti have twy further particulars oh' cli th,y am n give The P.C.0.0.
Last week we recorded the fact that Scotland Yard had notified all motorcab drivers who wore glasses to report themselves to the P.C.O. We now understand that this instruction has also been issued to men similarly affected who are licensed drivers of tramcars and motorbuses. Several drivers attended last week to be examined, and they found an officer in uniform ready to inspect them. Each eye was tested separately, with and without glasses.
The New Law of the "Extras."
An interesting point regarding taxicab charges was discussed in the Westminster Police Court last week. A driver in the employ of the British MotorcabCo., summoned a passenger for 4d. in respect of carried luggage. Payment had been refused on the ground that the sum was not recorded on the taximeter. Counsel for the prosecution stated that, under the Home Office Order, a driver is entitled to charge 2d. for each package carried. Since the taxi-drivers' strike, an arrangement had been arrived at between the owners and the men, whereby the men kept all the "extras." and paid the employers in return the sum of 5d. per day. In view of these fa-ets, it was unnecessary to record the "extras" on the meter. "It is a very natural thing," said the magistrate, "for the public to assume that the taximeter should record all they are called on to pay. I thought so myself. If there is an omission in the Home Office Order, it ought to be amended." An order was made for the driver to receive the 4d. in die pute, and the full cost.
We should have thought that the reading together of Section 6 (1) of the London Cab and Stage Carriage Act, 1907, and of Clause 33 of Part 4 of the Home Secretary's Order under that Act, dated the 30th December, 1907 (Statutory Rules and Orders, 1907, No. 1035), left no doubt, in this matter. Apparently, it is not so. The sooner a new Order is issued, the better it will be for everybody. The weakness in the wording of the Order appears to be in the use of the words " The driver shall be entitled to charge "—without the specific condition of prior registration on the taximeter. This driver, and those who supported him, will probably regret, soon, that they brought the action. We are asked to announce that the date of the L.G.O.C. Mortlake staff dinner has been, postponed until the 8th 'March.
New Registration.
The Abersoeh Motor Omnibus to., Ltd., by Jordan and Sons, Ltd., Chancery Lane, to carry on the business of proprietors of motorcars, omnibuses, vans, lorricn; and vehicles of all kinds, carriers of passengers and goods etc. Capital 11,500 in .15 shares.
Was it a "W. and G." ?
At the West London Police Court last. week in a case where a "W. and G." driver was summoned for dangerous driving and for not stopping after an accident, it was submitted for the defence that the wrong driver had been summoned, and that the car was not a "W. and G.," but was one of the cabs which have been painted in colourable imitation of the wellknown Acton pattern. The magistrate adjourned the case for further evidence.
Long Credit.
A driver named Knight was brought up at Westminster last week by B. Bell. Ltd., for non-payment of his takings, The company agreed to withdraw the charge of misappropriation, and judgment was given for the amount claimed, with costs. The amount in question was £14!