LONDON'S TAXICABS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1192, 29 July 1911, Page 5

LONDON'S TAXICABS.

DRIVERS' PERCENTAGES. By Tclcsrapb—l'reßS Assocln'!;;n-- CoDyrlcht London, July 27. Tho report of the Taxicab Commission suggests that fares should remain unaltered, and that drivers should have 20 per cent, of tho first pound and 25 per centum above; extras to belong to drivers, and owners to supply drivers with petrol at eightpenco a gallon.

HOW TAXICABS ARE RUN. Eleven of the chief taxicab companies in London, rcp'rei-cnting a joint ownership of 6000 cabs, combined in April last in an endeavour to bring about a change in the conditions of tho business. Officially, through (he London Motor-Cab Proprietors' Association, they issued an "ultimatum" containing the terms of a resolution passed at a meeting of tho association: "Failing immediate satisfaction bein« given io the representations uf tho proprietors, a charge shall be made against the motor-cab drivers of an amount equivalent to the motor-spiril duty, viz., lid. per gallon, and a notice calling the attention of passengers to the fact that extra fares aro not legally chargeable unless registered upon the taximeter shall bo placed in a conspicuous position in each motor-cab." These extras apply to luggage and to (he car riage of more than two passenger?. The proprietors contended that about .£200.000 a year in extras went to the drivers, and sought to have the petrol tax removed co far as taxicabs aro concerned, or, failing (his. that the fare charged for a motor-cab should bo lonpenoo for (ho firstmile qv pnrt of a mile, and cightpenco for succeeding miles. This would mean the addition of twopence lo the cost of each hiring. At present the proprietors pays Ihe petrol fax upon all petrol used in their cabs.

Tlie drivers rose in protest, and on one Saturday cvi'iiinu held a mass meeting, withdrawing all tho Inxicahs from the streets for tho night. The system on which the toxical)* are worked is for the driver to take a eiunrtcr of the amount, registered rn tho laximetev, und to pav ik\. a "allon for petrol. The "Daily Mnil" tonic a driver at random in the street, examined his day-bonk, and arccrf.iinod that his net earnings for four weeks were .£7 2a., or ,t'l 15s, (Id. per week. This included tips amounting (o .1?. n day, and is stated to give a fair idea of (lie men's earnings.