THE CABMEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 9091, 30 April 1890, Page 6

THE CABMEN.

THE RAILWAY STATION BOYCOTT. During the whole of yesterday the cahranks at the railway station were deserted, with the exception of a man who has for some time done what work has been necessary for the Railway Department. The remainder of the cabs continued to boycott the stands. Early in the morning a reply was sent to the Traffic Manager intimating that the men declined to work the stands until Constable Kelly was removed. On Mr Qarstin being interviewed by a representative of this journal, that gentleman stated that he had received no complaints of partiality whatever; in fact, it was news to him to hear that any such complaint had been made. A suggestion was also made to him that to meet the existing difficulty, it might be advisable to suspend the constable, pending an. inquiry into the charges brought against that officer. Mr Garstin made the offer to circumscribe the duties of the railway constable to the station alone, and leave the control of the cabs to the City Council and their Inspectors, and asked if the cabmen would work the stands if this were done. This was submitted to the cabmen, but thev declined to deal with any halfmeasure of this nature, alleging that this was practically done on a former occasion when an enquiry was held, and that no good came of it, as those men who had made the complaints at the enquiry had been subjected to further annoyance since. Mr Garstin’s opinion is in favour of the City Council having the entire control of the cabs; but the men urge that if Constable Kelly is allowed to remain in charge of the station, he must of necessity interfere with the cabs which ply for hire within the station premises; and they assert that rather than submit to this, they will not only continue their present action with respect to the railway cab ranks, but will “ strike the town.” In other words, will remove their cabs from the city till such time as the matter in dispute is settled to their satisfaction. They have drawn up a list of their accusations against the constable, and the reasons for demanding his removal, which are as follow : —(1) That he is overbearing in his manner towards us. (2) That he shows partiality. (.3) That he unduly interferes with the cabmen without the slightest cause.' (4) That he unduly interferes with the public in choosing their cabs. (5) That he uses unbecoming language to the cabmen, even so far as swearing at them. (6) That he harasses the cabmen by bringing numerous paltry cases into Court which he cannot substantiate or prove. (7) That he is unfit to hold his position on account of the vindictive way in which he exceeds his duty. (S) That he is deficient in understanding police duties, as, instead of preventing breaches of the by-laws, he lies in wait for the purpose of catching the men. The above list of grievances was yesterday morning given to Mr R. M. Taylor, M.H.R. for Sydenham, who also interviewed the Traffic Manager on the subject, and suggested that under the circumstances, and in the interest of the travelling public (who had been greatly inconvenienced during the day by the absence of the cabs from the stand). Constable Kelly should be suspended pending an enquiry into the whole atter. j

INTERVIEW WITH THE TRAFFIC MANAGER. Last night the cabmen held a general meeting in the large room of the Terminus Hotel; There were ninety-five present, including all the leading cab proprietors. Mr S. Brooker was voted to the chair, and congratulated the men on mustering so well. Mr Drury read the list of complaints against Constable Kelly, published above. Mr Hughes and he had waited on Messrs Taylor and Perceval, M.H.R.’s, and the Traffic Manager, who had promised to attend the meeting. At Mr Dalwood’s request, he read the correspondence which had passed between the cabmen and the various bodies on the subject. Mr Garstin then entered the room, and was received with applause. In reply to the Chairman he stated that Constable Kelly’s work should be confined to the station and station premises, and that there’should be no interference by him with the cabmen on the public stand on the South town belt. He would not, however, recommend that Kelly be dismissed or removed. He also undertook that all reports sent him by the constable should be very carefully looked at. He personally was very much opposed to the railway constable doing street duty. One of the cab proprietors drew attention to the fact that Kelly had asked several drivers (and not proprietors of cabs) to send in applications for inside licenses. Another complained of the unbecoming way in which he spoke to the cabmen. Another considered that the first cab on the rank should have the work from the railway offices, and not as at present only one man. Mr Garstin promised that this should be seen to. Another owner took exception to extra license fees having to be paid for working within the railway premises. Mr Garstin having withdrawn, it was unanimously resolved —“ That the cabmen of Christchurch decide to hold out and refuse to ply for hire on the two railway stands, or to accept orders from the railway station by telephone or otherwise, or take fares from the railway, till the constable be removed.” Messrs Dalwood, Hamilton, Mulholland, Brooker and Drury were appointed a Committee to look after any case of emergency that might arise, and it was also unanimously agreed that all should bear a share of the costs incurred in carrying on the strike. The Committee were also requested to interview the Manager of the Tramway Company and the expressmen, with a view to gaining their assistance. Votes of' thanks were passed to the Chairman and to Mr Drury, for the manner in which they had worked in the cabmen’s interest. A subscription list was started in the room and liberally responded to, Mr Brooker being elected Treasurer. A vote of thanks to Mr Storey for the use of his room terminated the proceedings. In connection with this matter, it may be explained that the cause of the delay in summonses being served on the cabmen is that the railway constable has first of all to report the circumstance which necessitates the summons to the stationmaster, who forwards the same to the Traffic Manager. He peruses it, and if a summons is needed Mr Pender is communicated with, and that officer instructs the Sergeant-Major, who in hia turn refers the matter to the Resident Magistrate’s Court, which in due course issues a summons and returns it to the Police Depot, when a constable serves it on the delinquent cabman.