§ MR. HUNTER (Aberdeen, N.)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate what is the result of his inquiries into the neglect of the Police Authorities and Procurator Fiscal of Aberdeen to prosecute cabmen plying for hire in Aberdeen without licences?
§ MR. J. P. B. ROBERTSONThe facts of this case are as follows: A strike took place among the Aberdeen cabmen, and certain cabs were driven for a few days by men not holding licences. Information was lodged with the Burgh Fiscal against several of these men, and information was also lodged against several 499 of the men on strike for acts of intimidation. The strike came to an end, and the Authorities considered that the interests of the public and of all parties would be best served by no prosecutions being instituted. In abstaining from prosecuting the men for driving without licences, which is a contravention of a clause in a local statute, the Burgh Fiscal acted in accordance with his own discretion, and after consultation with the Magistrates, but I am informed that the course thus adopted has met with the approval of gentlemen representative of the Cabmen's Union.