On This Day, 8 April 1916

Birmingham Daily Post

Saturday 8 April 1916

BIRMINGHAM TRIBUNAL

WOMEN AS TAXI-CAB DRIVERS

Three courts of the Birmingham local tribunal heard a number of applications yesterday. The Lord Mayor (Alderman Neville Chamberlain) presided in the First Court.
A meat porter applied for exemption on the ground that if he joined the army his home would be broken up. He informed the tribunal that his father and a brother were at present in France, while a second brother had been killed.
The application was refused. The Chairman stated they greatly appreciated what the family had done, but they had read of five, six and seven members of one family serving in the army.
“I shall have to shut up the shop,” said the father of a taxi-cab driver when informed that the application for the exemption of his son would be refused. It was stated that two cars were idle at the garage because drivers could not be obtained.
“Have you tried to get women?” asked the Chairman.
The applicant said the authorities would not issue licenses to women.
The Chairman: There are plenty of women driving motor-cars.