EXPRESS DRIVER'S REPLY.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1901, 22 April 1913, Page 4

EXPRESS DRIVER'S REPLY.

To the Editor. Sir.—J. Had Mr Scott as a worthy citizen known Hs borough by-laws it would not have been necessary for Mr Lind to have asked for stalling because Mr Scott wouh; have known that we are entitled to that fee ]f called to a job whether we are engaged to do the work or not. 2. If the city fathers and the residing public of Palmerston North had to make a living carrying legitimately as they expect us as law abiding citizens to do, they would not object to paying reasonable value for work and would have less complaints to make about not getting carriers when they require tnem. 3. Although the Borough once notified the carrier* two years ago that they were revising the by-laws as regards carriers and cabmen up to the present moment neither cabmen nor carrier* have received these new by-laws, which, considering the increased cost of labour and living in general are absolutely necessary. The .Borough Council of Palmerston are notorious all over New Zealand in regard to drivers' licenses. They extract five shillings out of ih® workers (driver*) for the right of driving their own expresses to mah» a living, whereas in the four large centres they escape without a shilling; also take into consideration the fact that they allow motor cars ! weighing anything from 25 cwt to ■> j tons to be licensed for the paltry sum of 10 shillings. Re Stand: The carriers are laughing at the B.C.'s foolish remarks regarding the engaged and the disengaged stand, forgetting in their own foolish ignorance that we solved that problem years ago with on* stand. The carriers are all of on« accord that they will not under any sonrideration recognise a second stand. It would practically disconnect them from telephone calls. It is ridiculous for tlie Council to say we shall work for all and every one that chooses to say we shall. As free men in a free country 1 think we as a body should have a say in that matter. Will some of the city fathers as business men not pick and choose their customers when cash is not paid? as for Cr. Beale's remark that we have a remedy, yes, 7s (kl in the lawyer's pocket to collect a Is account. if the Borough Council were to authorise the inspector to look more carefully after unlicensed carts plying for hire in the town instead of worrying law - abiding carriers to produce their drivers' licenses as he has been doing in the past, they would be conferring a favour on the carriers in general. As for Ci. Beale pooh-poohing the idea of a carrier waiting after 4 o'clock to go to the country we as carriers mnv inform liini that it is a common experience either alter dark or before daylight to find carriers following their calling many miiey from the precincts ui Palmerston.—l am, etc.. "A LEGITIMATE CARRIER,''