THE CABMEN AND THE CARRIERS.

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2668, 18 November 1871, Page 3

THE CABMEN AND THE CARRIERS.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE PEESS. SIX.—A letter appeared in this morning's paper signed " Old Stager," and as you have inserted his brilliant effusion, I hope you will be as generous tome, for it is undesirable that ouly one side should be heard on a question of some public importance. Your correspondent has a futile imagination—in fact he is completely carried away with it. His arguments (if any) are based on supposition of the most improbable character. There has been no instance of the proprietor of a luggage van taking a passenger's fare because he had a " brick " or any other small parcel on his conveyance : and I defy " Old Stager " to produce a cisc in proof of 'his assertion. The cabmen have for months past used every means to discover such an infringment of the law, but have failed. Surely o.ur little town has not reached a higher state of civilisation than large cities, where the custom prevails of refusing cabmen the right to carry luggage without passengers. Were it not for this most necessary precaution, there would not be a shadow of protection for carriers, who have to pay an annual license, and are under restrictions similar to those imposed ou cabmen. As for the " everlasting disputes " between cabmen and carriers, and the " endless amount of litigation" which consequently ensues, I look in vain for a record of them. I doubt if a single case in point ever came before our worthy Magistrate. And need I ask who are the source of "unmitigated annoyance" to Mr Bowen, the police, and the public ? Let them answer. Were it not. that I have already occupied too much of your space, I could refer to cases where cabmen have engaged wwlieensed carts to remove luggage from the railway, and usurped the rights of carriers in every conceivable way; but I have said enough. 1 hope a case may be brought before Mr Bowen, and being a rara avit in Court, he would not recognise a Luggage Van. November 17. 1871,