HOLDING OFF.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1937, Page 5

HOLDING OFF.

AUCKLAND TAXIMEN. TRAIN PLATFORM LICENSES NEW SYSTEM PROPOSED. ! Comparatively few Auckland t«\i ! driver- have yet decided to renew th'annual license which, at a charge of £1. entitles them to the privilege of wait- ■ ing at. the arrival platform of the Alick- ! land railway station to pick up farei from inward trains. Negotiations are I reported to l>e pending between the taxi I organisations and the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. Seeking a reduction in the charge made by the Railways Department i most of the drivers who previously held I these licenses decided a few weeks ago j not to renew them until their request I was acceded t<>. The licenss expired on I May 31 and so far only a fraction of ; the normal quota Iras been issued. I mainly "to private taxi owners who ! depend largely on railway •■fares" for a ' living. I It was stated to-day that lwith the ' principal taxi organisations, the Atta and the Checker companies were pro-p.x-in;: a scheme for the licencing of ih. whole of each company, instead of the indi\idual drivers, to give any driver in each company the right to ply for hire at the arrival platform. This, it i> claimed, would enable better service to be given to the public. In the course of a visit to Wellington within the next few days the Hon. V. V.. Lark. M.L.C.. will interview the Minister in regard to the position which has arisen. Mr. Lark stated to-day that he intended merely to - put tho matter before Mr. Sullivan from the point of view of the service to and interests of the public. The companies are themselves in touch with the Minister and la<t Saturday a telegram was sent asking Mr. Sullivan whether lie intenJed to grant any reduction in the lic%ise fee. Xo reply has yet been received. An extended period of "grace" from the time of the expiry of last year's licenses is stated to have concluded at midnight last night. This morning officers of the Department stopped all taxis "which drove up to the arrival platform and requested the production of the special licenses. It is understood that a few names were taken, but that no action is. intended in the meantime against unlicensed drivers who may attempt to ply for hire, other than to turn them awav.

As grounds for their request for a reduction in the charge, drivers declare that the privileges offered by the license are doubtful. Long waits . for late trains involve, they say. a waste of time which might be more profitably *pent. They contrast the £1 fee with 1/ nominal charge imposed by the Auckland Harbour Board for the right to ply at the wharves.

On the other hand, it is pointed out that where perhaps only one passenger ship may arrive in a ' week, at least seven passenger trains of valuable size arrive each day. It is pointed out tha' the railway fee is also largely noniin;- , providing a meaeure of control over the station taxi services.