"BADGE OF SERVITUDE?"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2747, 15 April 1916, Page 6

"BADGE OF SERVITUDE?"

THE JEHU IN ARMS NO-DISTINCTIVE BADCE WANTED. About -"a' dozen cab and taxi-cab 'drivers and, proprietors waited on tho By-laws" Committee of the Wellington City' Council yesterday afternoon to protest against the proposed new by-law compelling , them -to wear distinctive badges on their coats, an innovation recently approved by the council. Mr. Flanagan, who was the spokesman,. said-. that tho deputation wished to protest against tho proposed by-law, of which they had only learned through the Press. They were all opposed to it and' could put forward several objections. In the first place they considered it an indignity to mark out any 7 one in a way to create class, distinction —as a class set apart and not of worthy character. There was a very strong feeling about the matter and he asked Mr. Proctor'to hand to the chairman a petition: signed by nearly all in the businessi Another point to the employers of_ labour-was that the necessity of'having'to'.wear a badge was going tojmake it much' more difficult for them to obtain suitable labour than at present. It was their endeavour in tho interests of everyone to get sober, steady men, and the council should encourage them-to get men of the best character. This .new restriction was calculated to affect them, as-men were not going to be marked in the way proposed, and ft was going to make it. more difficult for them to get suitable men to enter their employ. . They also regarded it as a restriction on their liberty. There was quite enough ■in the by-laws at present in that way, and they could see no value in the badge. The badge was also calculated to -interfere ■ with their eanung -powers. It had been the custom in Wellington for people to wish the cab <2vtaxi they, engage to look as private -as possible. When there ivcro no tasis in Wellington it was always the endeavour of owners to make their carriages look as much liko a private carriage as they could.. They were, too, being'asked to pay for the badge, another expense to add to the high cost of'a-license. If they wished to work the Thorridon station they had to pay an 'oxtra;ios. -

Mr. W. H. P. Barber (chairman): 1 'That's because it's...outside the city." Councillor L. M'Kenzie: "No; it's not."

Mr. J. O'Shea (City Solicitor): "We can't help what . the Government charges." ■ 1

Continuing, Mr. Flanagan said that even another" tehpence war tax had been added to that. The council had decided by to apply it to all drivers of cabs, - taxis, .and expresses. He .did not see any argument to support a distinction between private and hackney carriages, because at pre* sent there were"no,private horse carriages'- in.V.Wellington at all. Further, he'could not see, why those that were already licensed 'should be selected for every..little fad and fancy. In their business./, {hey ..combined, their capital and labour.- and;'already'found it hard enough to keep • going. If the members of the council who proposed these things with 6uch a light hand and light heart would take their -places for a day or two, they would be more inclined to-t-alee something off instead of adding to the restrictions. It wa6 not practicable to enforce .such a by-law, say, for example, on a day like Friday, when they had to change their clothes two or three times a day. Those of the committee who knew him Would, know that the cab proprietors had always madestrong' efforts to carry out the by-laws to .the.best of their ability.' He wished the committee to' know that the objec-tions--ivere not fictitious, and ' asked that, if need be, they be given the opportunity to appear before the counoil as a whole. .

■ Councillor W. H. Bennett: "Do you know what the badges are like?" i Mr. Flanagan: "No, nor do we care." . . Councillor . Bennett: "If you had made' certain inquiries, you would not be here.'-

Couucillor Barber (to Councillor Ben. nett): "Confine yourself to, questions." - Councillor/Bennett: "Do you know what the-badge Is like?"

Mr. Flanagan: "If it's gold, we don't care.''. . . ....

■ Councillor Bennett: "Don't you think they would be helpful to the inspectors?" 1 i ; -

: Mr. Flanagan: "There's only a handful of and the inspectors know every one''personally," The chairman said that no disparage* ment was intended, and he was surprised to hear of their objections to the badge., How many men were wearing j distinctive badges • now—there • was the National Res'ervei' the men at Trentham, j who were proud of them, the fire bri-' fiade, and the people on the . : wharf. Nearly everyone wore a distinguishing mark of their occupation. The only thing the council had. thought was that they .were conferring .a privilege on the holders of licenses which gave them 1 a legal standing that others who had no licenses would not have. He. assured, the deputation that the council did not wish to place a restriction on them, hut rather wished to prevent them being defrauded. MK','Flanagan;, said tile , badge would 'notiup'rey'ent that. When they had to ~haye itheir numbers on their lamps, he had kiiown the lamps to' be changed from! one cab to another.'> What would be easier l than""tor-pass'- on the' button ? The chairman: "You would lose your _ license, and both parties would be prosecuted".''/ Continuing, he said that it was not intended to do anyone an injustice; and the representations of tho deputation would be given tho fullest consideration.

Councillor. M. F. I/uckie said that it ■was never intended in any way that the button would be worn as a badge of servitude. Mr. Flanagan: "That's it —you've said it! lt ; is a badge of servitude, and nothing more." f

During tho deputation. Councilor Barber-wore-one-of the drivers' badges —a neat little button about tho sir.o of a shilling, with gilt device in the centre,-surrounded by a circle of white enamel.

Pew rents at St. Paul's Church, Symonds Street,- Auckland, are now practically abolished (Btatcs the "New Zealand Herald"). This is a consummation at which tlio authorities of tlio church have aimed for somo years, and during the last twelve months most of tlio seats which wero formerly rented have been given up by the holders. Tlio total revenue of the vestry from seat rents for the last' year was £18 176., but it is/ explained that most of this early in the year, and that the : amount for'<the'-last quarter fell to about £2. Most of the pew-holders, on giving up their pows, substituted quarterly subscriptions in lieu of rent, and the vestry have reason to believe that the two or three remaining seat-holders, who are very old parishioners, will in due course follow their lead.