MASTERTON BOROUGH BYLAWS AND THE CABOWNERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4782, 25 July 1894, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH BYLAWS AND THE CABOWNERS.

A special meeting of tlie Mastertori Borough Council was hold lasfceyeiK; kg. Present: His Worship;the Mayor, and Crs Hornblow, Dixon, Mutric, Cullen, Feist, Chamberlain, and W. Pony, Tho adjourned question of the regulation of fares between the railway station and the town was introduced, several cab-owners being in attendance, ' ." Mr T. D, Thompson, on bolialf of tho deputation, said that tho present arrangements were unsatisfac : tmy, as sometimes several' cabs turned out aud .wenlj to the station, and theu found' only one: passenger, which meant sixpence between them, He was employing a man at £2 per week, and had paid £IBO for his cab and fittings, and under the proposed by-law, if three journeys Avere made to the station and six passengers obtained at each joumoy it only meant 9s per day. Cabs paid a license fee of £l, and a fee to tho railway authorities. Expresses paid nothing;, to the railway department, and carried passengers ■ very often. All they asked was for a fair thing. Masterton cabs were as good as any in New Zealand, and travellers frequently expressed' surprise at the low charges, ;' : ' f . -V In answer to &■ Feist, the Clerk said that Colombo road was the present boundary for a sixpenny fare from tho railway station, Cr Feist said it was his opinion that the ■faro"'should be Is. This would bo quite low enough; " Cr 'Dixon - said thoy had discussed the matter pretty fully bofqro.. <At though from the station to Colombo Road was rather far for sixpence, if Queen-street was made flio boundary,: it would bo unfair to charge. Is, say to the Salvation Barracks,' ~ ,""

Cr Yates moved that the boundary for sixpenny fares should be Archer and-Miriani.Stvegts. . Cr Peiiy seconded,aiid tho motion was carried.

Cr Yates moved Hint beforeß a.m., and after. 6 p.m., the minimum fare be Is. If a man could not afford to pay Is he hnd better walk.

Cr Chamberlain thought that a good many people walked from tho station now, and if the fare was raised more would do so. Cr Cullen seconded the motion but at tho same time thought i the cab-owners were defeating thoir own ends by asking for this course to be taken. Tor his own part ho should have to walk from the station, as he I could not afford to spoud a shilliug on the journey, Cr Feist said that seeing tho fare was only sixpence, lie should support double fares after six o'clock p.m. Tho Mayor was of opinion that six o'clock was too eai'ly a limit as it cut off passengers by the evening train.

Cr Dixon moved as au amendment that the limit for Cd fares; be 8 p.m. This would relievo passengers by tho evening train and catch people who wished to use cabs to! go to balls, etc. The Mayor thought that! a better plan would be to double fares from 7 p.m. except to and from the Railway Station, .;■■■: ',.;.

CrHornblow moved as a fourth amendment that double fares be charged after 7 p.m. and beforo 8 a.m. This would allow business people who closed at six,' to use cabs to go home. Tho principal trade of the vehicles was to and from the Station and ho thought tho cabowners should havo the advantage of it.

Cr Yates withdrew his motion and seconded Cr Hornblow's amendment which hecamo the substantivo motion, ''

The Mayor moved as an amendment that double fares be charged after 7 p.m., except to and from the station.

The amendment was earned,