CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 120, 19 October 1874, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Satubday, October 17. A special meeting of the Council was held on Saturday night, at the Council Chambers, at seven o'clock, for the purpose of considering the draft Hackney Carriage and Borough Stage Carriage bye-law. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Hobbs, Ick, Farr, Bishop, Jones. Gapes, and Raphael. Dr Foster, city soAcitor, was also in attendance. The minutes of the previous special meeting were read and confirmed. A petition was read signed by twenty-four proprietors of hansom cabs, drawing the Council's attention to clause 1 of the proposed by-law, which only permits two adults to be driven in hansom cabs at one time, and stating that under the old by-law they were allowed to carry three adults at the option of the hirer, no fee to be chargeable for the pointing out that it would be a serious inconvenience to the public if this clause were altered, and asking that the Council would take their petition into their consideration, and the utility of permitting the clause of the new by-law to remain as formerly. A petition was also read from seven proprietors of four-wheeled cabs, sayiug that they understood an application was about to be made to the Council that evening by the proprietors of hansom cabs, to be allowed to carry three passengers, and stating that if such request were acceded to, it would be an injustice to them, as it would materially injure their interests, if not totally destroy their chance of making a livelihood. Both petitions were received. A letter was read from Mr T. B. Bain, secretary to the Cabmen's Society, requesting that a deputation from the society might be permitted an interview with the Council, to state their views with reference to the proposed Hackney Carriage By-law, so that an amicable arrangement might be come to with the Council. The town clerk mentioned that he had forwarded a reply that the Council would receive the deputation that evening. The deputation, consisting of Messrs T. Hazard, C. Sexton, T. Goodger, H. Dodd, S. Thomas, and J. Dalwood, were admitted, and informed by his Worship the Mayor that they could not be received or heard in Council, owing to the fact that no notice for receiving the deputation had been placed on the summons paper calling the meeting ; but up to half-past seven he and the other members of the Council were willing to hear anything the deputation had to say. Ultimately, Dr Foster gave his opinion that the deputation could be received and heard in Couucil, and this was done. The members of the deputation were then heard individually, and premised by saying that the society wished to meet the Council, and would be willing to concede as much as they possibly could if the Council met them fairly, as they were only too desirous to have a by-law for the protection of themselves as well as the public. The expense of horse feed and keeping a cab was first mentioned. They wished that hirings for balls, weddings, &c, might be under special agreements, also that when a carriage was detained for fifteen minutes it might be charged for. Attention was drawn to the clause in the new by-law, which permitted owners of borough stage carriages to ply anywhere from the centre of, in, and through the city, whereas under the old regulation thev were bound to confine themselves to one route, the termini being stated in the license; and it was pointed out that this clause, if passed, would be an injustice to the owners of hackney carriages, who were placed on the stand to await the arrival of coaches to convey passengers to their destination. Reference was made to clause IS of the proposed by-law which enacts that the driver of a cab is liable to a penalty for ot being in constant attendance upon his

cab; and it was asked that the number of cabs allowed to be on the various stands might be increased. In conclusion, the deputation desired to thank the Council for the very patient hearing accorded them. His Worship told the deputation that their objections and suggestions would be carefully considered by the Council. The clauses and schedule of the new byelaw were then considered seriatim. The clause and schedu'e relating to fares was ordered to stand over until Tuesday night. The suggestion of the deputation was that Is 6d a mile be charged for a direct journey, and no back fare. For a return journey, when the fare is returning to place of hiring, the charge to be Is per mile. With reference to Hansom cabs being allowed to carry three passengers, it was stated that the bye-law allowed this to be done at the option of the hirers.

On the motion of Cr Hobbs the number of cabs to be permitted on the different stands throughout the city was increased. Clauses 18, 32, 35 and 47 were permitted to stand over for re-consideration by Dr Foster, and the remaining clauses were adopted. On the motion of Cr Gapes, the meeting adjourned until next Tuesday evening.