THE CAB BYE-LAWS.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 273, 27 April 1875, Page 2

THE CAB BYE-LAWS.

To the Editor of the Globe. Sir,—On Thursday last I was summoned along with two others,|to appear at the Resident Magistrate's Court. Christchurch for a breach of Clause 1 of the City Bye-law, No 12, which enacts as follows— "No person shall make or cause any unnecessary obstruction in or upon the roadway or footpath of any street by allowi?ig any vehicle or animal to remain in or upon or cross the same or by placing thereon any goods or material of any kind, or shall fail to remove such obstructions when thereto-required." The offence complained of was that I was obstructing the footpath |by standing on it opposite the Criterion Hotel having my cab in charge drawn up close to the kerb. In accordance with the summons I attended the Court, and after hanging about there waiting patiently for some time, my case was called on, when I understood that my case would come on later in the day. The Court then adjourned for half-an-hour, and upon enquiry after it resumed business. I was told that the Inspector of Police had withdrawn the charge as I had been summoned under the wrong law. I then applied for my ex penses, when the Resident Magistrate told me he could not give me any. I should like to ask, sir, whether the police have the power to summon people with impunity, and after keeping them dangling their heels about the Court for some two or three hours, withdraw the case without any consideration being allowed for loss of time. It seems a strange law and strange justice, but as we reside at the antipodes, perhaps things are turned upside down.

Surely, sir, I as a licensed cabman had a right to look after my cab, and I was doing so when the constable (an energetic member of the force) came up to me whilst I was standing on the footpath, and politely requested me to "Move on." I explained to him that I was in attendance on my cab, but this was of no avail, and I was summoned as'recorded above. If the'police choose to summon people under the wrong law surely that is their fault and they should be made to pay for it. Why should we be the sufferers ? I know this that if I summon any one and the case is dismissed or I withdraw it, I have to "pay the piper," and why not the Police who can better afford it. I applied to my solicitor for advice, and he informed me if I tried the case I miff Id get ss, but then as he very truly remarked, " who are you going to summon?" Truly the ways of justice are blind and singularly mysterious. Hoping you will insert this letter in order to afford some information as to how we conduct matters relating to police courts in Canterbury. Yours, &c, D. HOWARD.