DRIVERS OF TAXIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 31, 7 February 1939, Page 8

DRIVERS OF TAXIS.

CLAIM FOR NEW AWARD. Claims by the New Zealand Drivers' Federation for an award to cover taxi drivers will be discussed in Wellington to-morrow before the conciliation commissioner, Mr. M. J. Reardon. Features of the claims are requests for a 40-hour week and a minimum wage of £5 15/ a week. Taxi drivers have not been provided for by an award since 1931, and it is stated that the majority of them, in Auckland, at least, are at present operating on a commission basis. The interpretation asked for' bv the federation states that a taxi driver "shall be deemed to be a person who either drives a vehicle which plies for lure from a stand or works from a garage or depot .as a private hire vehicle." A five-day week of 40 hour» is suggested and it is proposed that night drivers should receive 5/ a week above the rate of £3 15/ for other drivers. For casual drivers it is proposed that they should received a minimum of four hours' pay and be paid 20 per cent above ordinary rates. It U further suggested that the award should have a currency of 12 months.

The assessor for Auckland at the conciliation council is Mr. A. J. Harris who has replaced Mr. L. G. Matthews secretary of the Auckland Drivers' Union.