A CHALLENGE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1137, 26 May 1911, Page 4

A CHALLENGE.

COUNCILLOR FITZGERALD TAKES IT ur. In yesterday's iSsuo of The Dominion there appeared a letter signed by F. G. Butler and G. Fernando?, on behalf of tho Fcalliersl.on Street trcond taxi-cab drivers, in the course of which (lie following statement was made:— "Councillor Fitzgerald is reported to have said that a strict examination is wauled to keep out some of the incompetent men who drive taxi-cabs at present. We are quite willing, on behalf of all tho taxi-cab drivers on the. F-catherston Street stand, to place .£5 in your hands for donation towards any charily you may nominate if it bo found that Mr."Fitzgerald ran prove, after any proper tests, that even one taxi-cab driver in Wcllngton is incompetent,, on condition that llr. I'ltzgcrald puts up a similar Mini. ]f on the. other hand, (he drivers are, in the opinion of those qualified to speak, competent drivel's, then Mr. lilzgerald's money shall Iμ donated ns above indicated. It is hII very well for councillors to speak ou tho floor of tho council, where wo navo'iiot an opportunity of enntra- , dieting their statements. Thev do not cam their bread and butler )jy driving. It any of these gentlemen would Rive specific instances of the ineompetency of which they complain, then the persons in question would bo able u> take the necessary steps to.protoet themselves. It is most unfair, however, that they should make these general statements, nnd injure tho whole of the motor-car drivers, whou they probably mean to indicate men who are not professional taxi-cab or motor-car drivers at all." Last evening wo received tho folbwin* letter, accompanied with a cheque for .£5, from Councillor Fitzgerald , :— [To The Editoe.] Sir,—l noticed in to-day's issue of yonr paper a letter signed by Messrs. Butler and Fernandos, and written on behalf of tho Featherston Street stand of taxi-cab drivers. I am therein takou to task for the views which I expressed at tho-meeting of the Wellington City Council, held on the 18lh .inst., relative to moto'r-car supervision. I am, moreover, challenged to place .£5 in your hands for donatim to- . wards any charity yon may jioiuiiMte, should I Iμ unablo to prove after ony "proper tests" that even oso taxi-jab driver in Wellington is incompetent, Messrs. Butler and Fernandos r+ra>' to place- the same sum in yonr ir-inds to be similarly donated should I succeed in my proof. Provided that manifest incompotency within the past 12 months is io be taken and regarded as a "proper test" within the moaning of that impression, as nsnd by your correspondents, I cheerfully accept the cliallenw, and forward herewith my chec.iio for £5 in proof of my earnestness in, the matter.—l am, etc., J. E. FITZGERALD. May 25, 1911.