Last week the Home Secretary announced an agreement upon the
new taxicab charges. The normal charge is to be 9d. instead of ls. a mile. The charge for each extra passenger will be 6d. instead of 9d., and the charge for waiting will be reduced from 6s. to 4s. an hour. The new scale will come into force when the meters have been altered, but there is to be an interim period beginning on May 1st during which the fares will be about three- quarters of the present rate. The taxicab trade is as gloomy as ever, but it has always been impervious to arguments both economic and psychological. The fact is that the taxi fares of London are much higher than those of any city in Europe, and the Londoner who has to count his shillings, and even his pennies, does not dream of hiring a taxi unless he is compelled. The taxi-driver during the greater part of his so-called working day is idle. When the travellers who now walk and the cabs which now stand empty are brought together, everybody will have cause to he satisfied, and time wonder will be that the fares remained prohibitive as long as they did. * * * *
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