HC Deb 11 May 1896 vol 40 cc1102-3

On the Order to go into Committee on this Bill.

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. JESSE COLLINGS,) Birmingham, Bordesley

said that with reference to Clause 2 of the Bill, which gave power to the driver to require the hirer to produce the fare, he had been in communication with the London cabmen, and the chairman of the Society, representing 7,000 men, said they would rather lose this clause than drop the Bill. It was thought that the cabmen were protected enough from fraud by the first clause.

Bill considered in Committee.

Clause 3,— Section 18 of the London Hackney Carriage Act, 1853, is hereby repealed from "and in case of any dispute" to the end of the section.

MR. D. CRILLY (Mayo, N.)

said that, as the law now stood, in the event of a dispute a cabman had to drive his fare to the nearest police station. This doubtless placed some hardship on the cabman, but in return for abandoning this right, those who employed the cab should be given some protection under the proposed Bill. Section 18 of the London Hackney Carriage Act, 1853, should not be repealed altogether, but he suggested that in case of dispute the cabman should take his fare to the nearest policeman, who should be enabled to settle the dispute.

MR. JESSE COLLINGS

said it was proposed that there was remedy enough by taking the cabman's number, subsequent proceedings being taken in the police court. A policeman could settle nothing in connection with the dispute.

Mr. CRILLY

said that, although the right hon. Gentleman had admitted that the fare should have some protection, he had not even suggested what form that protection should take. In order to give him an opportunity of finding a way out of the difficulty he moved to report progress.

Committee report progress; to sit again To-morrow.