RACE TRAFFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 15, 19 January 1933, Page 5

RACE TRAFFIC.

TAKAPUNA MEETING.

NO TAXIS FROM OUTSIDE,

liOCAL VEHICLES SUFFICE.

In the opinion of the No. 2 Licensing Authority, Devonport buses and taxis will be able to carry all the race traffic on Anniversary Day, to be observed on Jlonday, January 30, and this morning it refused applications in respect to 40 Auckland taxis, the owners of which wanted a temporary license to carry people between the ferry and Takapuna racecourse.

The first application in regard to the race traffic was from the North Shore Transport Company (Mr. W. H. Taylor), which asked to be allowed to increase its fleet of race traffic buses to 24. Mr. Taylor said that that jinmber, plus, the local Devonport taxis, would be ample to deal with the people travelling to and from the races, and there was r.o need to license any taxis from outside. The fare charged was 1/ each way. The company had instituted return tickets at 1/o,'but they were not popular with the public.

Mr. J. A. C. Allutn (chairman of the authority): People generally hope that when the races are over they will be in a position to take taxis. (Laughter.)

Mr. Taylor said it might if the taxi fare were fixed at 1/0 as against the 1/ charged on the buses. He did not ask that the Devonport taxis be penalised, but thought something should be done with those that came across the water.

An application for a temporary license for seven cabs was made by Johnston's Blue Taxis (Mr. Wallace), and in support it was stated that the traffic on January 20 was always heavier than at the spring meeting, for instance. Mr. Allum pointed out that the buses plying to the races held annual licenses, whereas the taxis were granted a temporary license for the meeting. It was reported that at the spring meeting there were less people than usual, and the vehicles available were more than enough to carry everyone. Before the authority could grant temporary license-s it must be satisfied that the vehicles enjoying annual licenses were not able to cope with the traffic.

Too Many Vehicles. C. P. Harper, traffic inspector, in evidence, stated that from the traffic control point of view he did not care how many licenses were granted. At the spring meeting tlie traffic was more evenly spread than usual, and there were never more than 550 to 600 people arriving by ferry at any one time. He tallied the traffic, and found that whereas there were 19 buses and 30 taxis plying the traffic could have been carried by six buses and 19 taxis. More people were walking to the races to-day than formerly. In answer to Mr. Blomfield, the traffic inspector said that the buses and the six local taxis could easily have coped with the spring meeting traffic. Mr. E. Brinsden, in objecting to the applications for taxi licenses, said he did only one trip a day at the spring meeting, as there were too many vehicles. More people walked nowadays. "The road is black with them," he added.

In reply to a question, Mr. Taylor said the people carried on the ferries 011 the occasion of the spring meeting were substantially the same in numbers as the year before. For the Anniversary Day meeting the number would probably be 25 per cent higher. The maximum number on a ferry would be between 800 and 900. Some ferries could carry 1100 people. Mr. Wallace: Then at the peak of the traffic your buses could not carry everyone? Mr. Taylor: Yes, we could, because so many people walk now. Local Facilities Ample. After hearing all the evidence, Mr. Allum said the position was that there was a certain number of buses with annual licenses to serve the race traffic. The experience of the last meeting tended to show that they could reasonably cater for the traffic with very little assistance from the local taxis. The authority had to be satisfied, before issuing further licenses, that the persons in possession of licenses at present were unable or insufficient in number so to cater. That had not been shown. The temporary licenses applied for for taxis outside the district would therefore be refused. Regarding the taxis belonging to the district, there was no objection from the holder of the license for the buses, and they would be granted temporary licenses. The application of the North Shore Transport Company to put on additional buses would be granted.