§ MR. BOWRINGasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the recent conflicting decisions given by various Police Magistrates as to the 587 present cab fares in the metropolis; and, whether he has considered the propriety of taking steps to remedy the inconvenience and uncertainty thus caused?
MR. BRUCESir, the regulations with respect to the Question of the hon. Gentleman are certainly in accordance with the intention of the Act 31 Vict., which provides that whenever the fare now payable by law in the case of any hackney carriage on a stand shall not amount to the sum of 1s. the driver shall be entitled to charge 1s. It certainly was the intention of the promoters of the Act, and of those who framed the regulations, that where a third person was carried an additional 6d. should be paid for any distance short of a mile. An amended, regulation removing the doubt as to the interpretation of the clause, and in accordance with this view, will shortly be issued.