CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 225, 27 February 1875, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Saturday, February 27. A special meeting of the Council was held at 9.30 a.m. Present: His Worship the Mayor, Crs Calvert, Hart, Ick, Farr, Gapes, Jones, and Bishop. The city solicitor (Dr Foster) was also present. The Mayor said that, in accordance with the Municipal Corporation Act, 1867, the town clerk had received a requisition signed by three members of the Council requesting a special meeting to be called that day to consider the cab cases. At the request of Or Hart, The town clerk read the following resolution, passed July 29th, 1872: “ That a week’s time be given between the application under the Hackney Carriage bye-law and the consideration of the same, in order to allow sufficient time to make the necessary inquiries. 1 ’ The Mayor said that as the subject was an important one, and it was necessary to get the mind of the Council on the subject, the discussion would be a free one. Cr Farr took it that the applications now sent in were from new drivers and new owners. He apprehended that in the case of old drivers and owners, whom they knew well, no difficulty would be put in the way. Cr Hart said that, in moving the resolution which had been read at his request, his object was to give not only the Council and the public, but the cabmen themselves, an opportunity of knowing who were applying for a license. The thing had been argued at the time, and it was considered advisable a week’s notice should be given. He objected to the proposed departure from the resolution in this instance, because they would be establishing a precedent. Cr Ick thought whether the applicants were old or new, enquiries should be made. He thought that in every case the Council should receive a request from the Commissioner of Police with reference to the character of the applicants. He for one would object to a license being granted to any person who was convicted of drunkenness or unbecoming language. Of course for other offences, such as being absent from his cab, or things of that kind, he did not think this should stand in the way of his obtaining a license, but in all cases where cabmen were convicted of drunkenness, or using bad or insulting language to females or other persons, he should object to that person being granted a license. The Mayor said that Dr Foster was present and perhaps would be able to advise them how to deal with the matter. Dr Foster said that it would be advisable for the Council to proceed with the consideration of the applications’without voting now. and adjourn the final consideration of them for a week. In the meantime the police might be told what had been done. Next Saturday, if the Council thought fit, they could formally grant the applications. The following applications for licenses were then read : Owners—Messrs 0. Sexton, John Horner, John Dalwood, George Wells, Joseph Cook, Thomas Blyth, Wm. Jordan, Henry Dodd (two applications), J. Garland (two applications). Drivers —Messrs John Dalwood, George Wells, J. Cook, Cornelius Sexton, Thomas Blyth, John Horner, Henry Dodd, Wm. Jordan, and Thomas Stout. The Mayor said that now he would suggest that the stand for these cabs who had applied for licenses should be opened so soon as the money was paid. This, he thought, would be the best way. Cr Gapes could not see why the stands should not at once be opened. They could not keep them closed up, because the cabmen who had applied for licenses had a right to claim a stand for their cabs, and if those who had not come in interfered with those who had, the police could be called in. He would move that the cabstands be thrown open at once. Dr Foster said that before the Council went on to consider -the matter, he wished to bring the facts before the Council. Through his advice to them Goody er had been convicted for ha\ ing broken down the fencing, and there were also twenty-six convictions against other cabmen. His advice was that they should drop all these cases, and let the whole matter drop. He also agreed with Cr Gapes in the motion he proposed, that the stands should be opened. He felt that the best way would be now to let bye-gones be bye-gones. If any of the cabmen who had not taken out licenses interfered with those who had, the police might be called in, and an end put to that. So far as the bye law went, he was perfectly prepared to defend it, and should advise that those who did not come in and take out licenses should be summoned under it. Cr Gapes’s motion was not seconded. Crs Hart and Ick strongly protested against the stands being opened until the expiration of the week, as provided by the resolution. The cabmen who had not applied might go on to those stands and request those whose applications had been read to show their license, which they would be unable to do. The cabmen had defied the Council and put them to expense, and a week’s delay would do them no harm. Cr Gapes moved—“ That the stands be opened at once. There was no seconder to this motion. Crick moved—“ That the cab-stands be not opened until at least thirteen licenses shall have been taken out. ” Cr Hart seconded the amendment. Some discussion ensued. Cr Jones moved—“ That the barricades now existing at the cab-stands be removed.” Cr Gapes seconded the amendment. The amendment wag then put am) negatived :-t

Ayes, 2—Crs Gapes and Jones. Noes, s—Crs Hart, Ick, Bishop, Farr, and Calvert, Cr Ick’s motion was then put and also negatived by 4 to 3, Ayes, 3, Crs Ick, Hart, and Calvert. Noes, 4, Crs Bishop, Farr, Gapes, and Jones. The motion was also negatived, Cr Ick then moved, “ That the Council decline to open the cab stands until at least twenty licenses shall have been taken out.” Cr Hart seconded the motion, Cr Jones moved, “That the further consideration of the opening of the cab stands remain over until next week.” Cr Ick withdrew his motion in favor of Cr Jones’ amendment, which was carried, Cr Gapes alone dissenting. The special meeting has been adjourned until Saturday next, at 9.30 a.m., when the application for licenses will be considered.