DOMINION TAXI-OWNERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 251, 21 October 1921, Page 6

DOMINION TAXI-OWNERS.

ANNUAL COATERENCE. VEHICLE AND ROAD REMITS I PASSED. . TYRE TAX DISAPPROVED OF. The annual conference of the Dominion Taxi-Drivers' Federation of New Zealand was opened on Wednesday. Those present were:—Messrs. (I. A. Waddle (Wellington), president. Lang. lor (Wellington), Fitzgerald (Wellington), Woods (Christchurch), McClymont (Dunedin), Gibson (Dunedin), Watson (Blenheim), Brown (Palmerston North), and Bauchop (Napier). ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report showed that the Customs Tariff Board had been approached by the president and secretary, who had explained the views of the federation regarding the tyre tax. The federation had been in close touch with exporting linns in (ireat Britain | and America, with whom much corn's- ! pondence had taken place. The trading question would be one for the conference to consider. The present and proposed legislation would, in the opinion of the executive, cripple the taxi business and still further efforts should be made to oppose it. The association's financial position was sound, though it rei|itirc»l building up. The report was formally adopted, j The Wellington, Christchurch, and ' Otago Associations, it was stated, were financial. The associations of other centres were, as yet, not affiliated. The Auckland Association occupied the unusual status of being associated with the Automobile Club. The Palmerston North Association was then admitted as an affiliated body. UNIVERSAL SPEED LIMIT. It was resolved that there be a universal speed limit through all towns of the Dominion of fifteen miles per hour. Further, it was also resolved that all fines imposed for speeding should go to the Crown instead of councils. EXORBITANT TAXES. A resolution was passed to the effect that the federation should consider motor legislation at present before the House of Parliament and protest against the exorbitant taxes expressed therein, and that this federation favours a vehicle tax as opposed to a tyre tax, as it was considered that the tax on tyres was unfair. Furthermore, they asked an assurance that the proposed vehicle license tax was to go to road formation. "UNFAIR COMPETITION." As a result of the practice of various firms in fitting out mot«r lorries with seats for use on busy days and race days, in conveying passengers to a raeecoursc. nnd aNo the action of some private car-owners in a similar direction, thus entering into competition with the taxi-owners, a remit to the effect that licenses be not granted to car proprietors who ply for hire only during the busy times was carried. VARIOUS REMITS. The following remits were carried: — That no person should have the right to grant a drivers' license unless such person is fully qualified. That no person be granted a license to drive a private car under the age of eighteen or licensed to drive a ta_xj, a motor bus or trade motor used for hire under the age of twenty-two. A recommendation to limit the width of load on lorries to ten feet and a deflecting mirror to extend beyond the load to show the lorry-driver any traffic desirous of passing (overtaking). That taxis awaiting engagement on a taxi-stand should be exempt from hay- , ing their cars lighted owing to the great j strain on their storage batteries, which | are repeatedly causing loss of time and expense, this contingent on such, taxistand being properly lighted. That all vehicles, handcarts, and bicycles should be compelled to carry visible lights, aud that as regards stock driven after sundown that a light be carried by the driver thereof.