The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-05 00:00:00

CAB AND OMNIBUS FARBS.

Mr. DAWSON rose to call the attention of the Secretary
of Slate for the Home Department to the system of alter-
Comte fares demanded by the driven and cooducton
public conveyances in the metropolis, and to the abases of
any proper limitation of fires in the present regulation of
omnibus traffic. He objected to the want of •
limitation of omnibus fares, and observed that these oCgPer
e
were frequently doubled at any moment of public pressure.
He contended that legislation on this question was not im-
pcseible. The suggestion was that there should be an uni-
form rate of one penny • mile, or for less than • mile, that
no fare should be less than two-pence; that
all omnibuses shonid travel at a rate not leis
than amen miles an hour, with other regula-
tions. A second suggestion was that there should be a
list of fares conspicuously placed both inside and outside
the omnibus, and that no change should be permitted to
take place in the amount of the fare except after one
month's notice published in the London Gazette and in two
of the morning papers. A third and yen valuable sugges-
tion was that on every application for the renewal of an
omnibus brume, a table of fares should be produced,
which should afterwards be adhered to. Another nuisance
was the practice of nursing, which ought to be put an end to.
He conkl only say that the London omnibuses were
worm constructed and least adapted to meet the wants of
the public than the like vehicles in any other country. He
would admit that the cabs were planed in • better position
in regard to the convenience of the public ; at the sans
time, he felt bound to admit the great difficulty at the pre-
sent time :of securing the attention of the drivers, unless
there were more than the ordinary quantity of persons re-
quiring them. In returning from the International Exhibi-
tion the present inadequacy of the law was apparent. He
thought that in all ewe the prosecution; should be under-
taken by the police. This was a domestic question of cos-
moreditan interest, and be hoped the right lion. gentleman
the Home Secretary would not fail to give his attention
to it. (Hear, bear.)
Sir G. GREY was sorry the answer which be gave last
week did not appear sufficient to the hon. gentleman.
There was a great distinction between cabs which plied for
hire within a radius of five or six miles, and omnibuses,
which might be called stage coaches. Still some of the
suggestions of the hon. gentleman were worthy of collar-
denten. On the other hand, many of the bon. gentleman's
suggestions were already provided for by law, and
if the parties offending were brought before the magistrates
their hosier would be taken from them, or suspended, or
• fie* inflicted. Many of the complaints recently made
arose from the great demand for vehicles—a demand which
far exceeded the supply—and that was the case more as
regarded cabs than omnibuses. But the police had re-
mewed instructions to watch the conduct of the drivers who
refund to take up passengers, and to report it to head-
garters, and the whole of the force were doing their utmost
to protect passengers and others from imposition. He
thought that the table of fares should be painted on the
outside ae well as no the inside of omnibuses, but it would
hardly be worth while to bring in • bill this session for that
purpose. especially as the law might have to be revised next
year. (Haar, bear.)