LORD DE ROS, in rising to call attention to the inconvenience and danger caused by hackney cabs plying for hire in the public thoroughfares, said:—My Lords, although this question deals with a subject which has not the merit of novelty, I think I need offer no apology to your Lordships for bringing the matter to your notice, because, unless something is done, the thoroughfares of London will be rendered absolutely impassable through the number of crawling cabs in the streets. In Bond Street, where, as your Lordships know, there are a number of very valuable shops, picture galleries, exhibitions, and so forth, I counted the other day no less than seven hansom cabs following each other and blocking up the road so that no carriage could pass without the greatest inconvenience; and even in less important thoroughfares the evil is also very great. Another matter which I think depends entirely on the public themselves is one which, I am afraid, will not be very well received. I allude to the servants standing at the doors whistling for cabs. Cabs come tearing in from all points, and it is only a wonder that there is not a collision. It is all very easy to find all these faults, but it is not so easy to suggest remedies. I would venture, however, to shadow forth one or two points which, I think, might possibly tend in the end to mitigate the evils of which I complain. In the first place, my Lords, I think that there are far too many cabs, and the granting of licences might be checked till the number of cabs is considerably reduced. Another point is that there should be more cab-stands, and I would suggest that after a cabman has set down his fare he should then proceed, under a penalty, to the nearest cabstand, and, in order to indicate that he is doing so, I think that some sort of sign, a little flag or something, might be hoisted on his cab. In the next place I may point out the cruelty to which the horses are subjected. In the hot weather some cab-horses are very hardly worked indeed; it would be a very great advantage to them to have a rest between 691 each fare. I know that there are very great difficulties in all these matters, and I have been told over and over again, "Oh, it is a very great convenience to be able to jump into a cab at a moment's notice;" but I cannot help thinking that the advantages which would be gained by the absence of these cabs would greatly outweigh the convenience of their presence. I feel certain that, unless some steps are taken in this direction, the London cabs will very soon establish a complete monopoly of the principal thoroughfares of the Metropolis.
§ EARL BROWNLOWMy Lords, I thought it would be well for your Lordships to hear the opinion of the Chief Commissioner of Police, as being the Chief of those men who had to attend to the traffic about the streets. Therefore, I asked the Chief Commissioner to give me a memorandum on the subject, and in the communication which I have received from him he says that the evil of crawling cabs is one which will exist just so long as the public continue to take up cabs in the streets instead of from cab-ranks; and he suggests that there should be an increase in the number of cab-stands. The whole question has been discussed over and over again. I can only say that I think the matter is one that must be left entirely to the police. I am quite sure that the police will do whatever is possible to mitigate the nuisance. This is one of those things which I think must be given some latitude, and I really do not see any way beyond proposing to increase the number of cabstands by which whatever evil there may be can be remedied.
§ LORD COLVILLE OF CULROSSMy Lords, without any intention to prolong the discussion, I would just say that I think it very desirable that all licensed vehicles should, after dark, be compelled to carry lamps. I am quite aware that at present hansom cabs do carry lights; but four-wheelers and other vehicles are not compelled to do so. I think a regulation to this effect would obviate a great deal of the danger which undoubtedly does exist at present.