Towns > Glasgow > 1828-1912 - Post-Office annual Glasgow directory > 1847-1848

Porters' Fares and Begulatio7is. 68
produce satisfactory certificates as to character. On being admitted, and before be-
ing allowed to ply, each Porter must implement the above enactment; and he shall
thereafter strictly conform to, and observe the following Regulations : —
1st. He shall renew his bond at the expiry of three years, and on the decease of
the Cautioner, or his removal from the City; which decease or removal, he shall,
within eight days thereof, intimate, in writing, to the City Clerks and Superinten-
dent of Police; and he shall also, in the same manner, and within the same time,
intimate his own removal or change of residence.
2nd. He shall wear his badge or ticket conspicuously on the left breast of his coat,
which badge shall be of brass, and have inscribed the words " City Porter," and the
number in the order of his admission ; and he shall also have a transcript of said in-
scription painted legibly on the right side of his ban-ow or hurley,
3rd. He shall not, when unengaged, refuse employment when offered, whether on
his station or not ; and, if he alleges previous employment, he shall, when required,
specify the nature and time of his engagement.
4th. He shall not demand higher fares than those specified in the subjoined Table ;
a copy of which Table, with these Regulations, and also a small plan of the City,
divided into sections of a quarter of a mile, he shall always have in his possession,
and produce to persons employing him, when required.
5th. When stations or districts are allotted to Porters, which shall be done by
the Superintendent of Police, the Porters, except on extraordinary occasions, such
as the Term time, when they are generally employed at flittings, shall not offer
themselves for hire beyond the district assigned them.
6th. Not more than four Portei's shall stand at any corner of a street or other
station ; and, as one station may be more advantageous for employment than
another, they shall be so arranged as that each may have an equal opportunity of
obtaining it. Thus, if the south corners of Glassford Sti'eet shall be deemed the
most favourable, the four Porters who have been longest in the service shall take
the west corner — the next four in order shall take the east corner — the next four
shall take the west corner of Stockwell Street — and the next four the east corner
of Stockwell Street ; and when a vacancy takes place, by the employment or ab-
sence for a quarter of an hour, of any on the more advantageous stations, in this
order — the Porter first on the next station, for the day, shall have the right of
movino- to it — that is to say, the first of the four at the west corner of Stockwell
Street to the west corner of Glassford Street — and the first of the four at the east
corner of Stockwell Street to the east corner of Glassford Street ; or the first at
the east corner of Stockwell Street may move to a vacancy at the west corner of
Stockwell Street. The same rule shall be observed at the Cross, the south end
of Candleriggs, and the north end of King Street; the south end of Buchanan
Street, and the north end of St. Enoch Street ; and at the other parts of the
City where there are intersecting streets, or where there are two or more stations
near each other.
Tth. Not more than six Porters shall resort to, or take up a station at, any Coach-
Office, inn, or other place at which Stage-Coaches arrive. On the arrival of
Coaches, the Porters shall stand in a line on the curb-stones of the pavement ; and
they shall not leave the curb-stone or interfere with passengers' luggage, till singled
out and engaged. They shall not importune, call out, or make any signal, to pas-
seno-ers for employment ; and, unless especially selected by passengers, they shall
take hire in rotation, each in regular succession.
8th. The object of these arrangements being to ensure good order on the one
hand, and a fair opportunity of regular employment on the other, the Porters must
strictly attend to their operation. For this purpose, they may establish rules
among themselves, provided these are sanctioned by the Superintendent of Police,
who may alter or rescind them, and provided they are not inconsistent with the
Regulations hereby enacted. In the event of dispute or misunderstanding among
them, the same shall be determined by the Superintendent. And, as a corrective of
improper conduct, the Superintendent may remove such as do not comport them-
selves with propriety, to an inferior station, and promote the next in order.
9th. No Porter shall appear on his station intoxicated ; if he does, he shall be
removed, and the next in order shall take his place. All Portei-s are prohibited
from standing on the pavement or crossings, to the obstruction or annoyance of
the lieges ; as also from smoking, when upon their stations, or in any manner
giving ofience. In general they are enjoined to conduct themselves orderly among