NO PROBLEMS?

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 237, 6 October 1936, Page 9

NO PROBLEMS?

DUNEDIN TAXI FIRMS. HIGHER FARES OPPOSED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Monday. Great interest is being taken by taxi owners and drivers in the sittings of the committee of inquiry appointed by the Government to investigate the conduct of taxi and carrying businesses in the Dominion. The committee, which consists of Mr. P. M. Butler, chairman (Wellington), Mr. James Walker (Master.ton) and Mr. H. B. Smith (Transport Department), will commence its Dunedin sittings to-morrow. While there will be no lack of witnesses. who will be prepared to place before the committee their views on existing forms of transport, inquiries which were made this afternoon indicate that most taxi firms and employees are satisfied with conditions as they exist in Dunedin. It is apparently considered that the industry has no outstanding problems which require investigation. If any proposal is made to the committee that taxi fares should be raised in Dunedin ,it will be strongly opposed by a number of companies, the proprietors of which consider that the great extension of their business that has occurred in recent years is attributable solely to the reduced fares now ruling. Several companies have declared their willingness to pay the 1931 award wages of £4 12/6 a week, but a condition of this offer is that it holds good only if the fares are not raised.