§ 71. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the hardship at present caused to the owners and drivers of taximeter-cabs by the fact that their vehicles are not permitted to cross the temporary Waterloo Bridge from south to north; and whether, seeing that cabs are public-service vehicles, he will consider extending to hired taximeter-cabs the same privilege as is enjoyed by omnibuses?
§ Mr. LLOYDI am informed by the Commissioner of Police that he has again reviewed this question, but he regrets that in view of the traffic conditions at the bridge it is not practicable to extend to taxicabs the present arrangements under which an occasional service of omnibuses is allowed to cross the bridge from south to north.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIn view of the fact that both these classes of vehicles are public carriers, why should the Commissioner differentiate between one class of public vehicle and mother, especially as great hardship is occasioned to those who own these taxi-cabs?
§ Mr. LLOYDThere are considerable difficulties in allowing any traffic to come from south to north in view of the conditions at the bridge putting a great deal of inconvenience on passengers at Waterloo. It was desired to make some concession to them and it was thought that the best thing to do was to allow an occasional organised system of omnibuses as being public service vehicles which provide accommodation for the largest number.
§ Sir W. DAVISONMany people coining from a railway station use taxi-cabs.