§ Sir W. PRESTONasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that, under present Regulations, taximeter cabs waiting in the London terminal stations are at liberty to accept or refuse a fare as they wish; that at Paddington Station hardly a day passes without disputes arising between passengers who arrive at that station and taximeter-cab drivers who refuse to carry such passengers to their destinations on the ground that the journey desired is not long enough or there is not sufficient luggage to make it worth their while; and that the railway police are helpless in the matter; and will he take the necessary steps, by Regulation or otherwise, to correct this annoyance to the travelling public?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe provisions of the Hackney Carriage Acts as to plying for hire relate only to public streets or roads, and the Courts have decided that these words do not include railway stations. Under the existing law, no offence is committed by a cab driver who, when waiting on railway premises, refuses to be hired. I have no information as to how far drivers take advantage of the law to pick and choose their fares at any particular station; but if I receive definite information as to the prevalence of this practice I will consider what steps can be taken.