PETROL FOR TAXIS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 83, 8 April 1940, Page 8

PETROL FOR TAXIS

AUCKLAND POSITION. INDIVIDUAL BASIS. LONG DISTANCE JOURIfEYS. The troubles of Auckland taxi proprietors consequent upon a reduced petrol allocation were aired at a meeting of the Metropolitan Licensing Authority, the Auckland Transport Board, to-day. The following maximum allowances have been fixed by the Oil Fuel Controller in the meantime.—Single-shifted cars, 108 gallons maximum monthly; doubleshifted cars, 135 gallons monthly. Applications, for rations in excess of these allowances arc required to be referred to the Transport Licensing Authority. The Oil Fuel Controller at Auckland stated that all oil fuel licenses on issue to taxi proprietors as at March 31 were now in course of being amended to provide for the respective allowances. In this connection petitions signed by 04 owner -drivers of the Checker organisation had been received, and these were referred to the Licensing Authority for consideration. Long Distance Trips. The controller, in another letter, stated that in view of the changed conditions now existing under the individual licensing, the special licenses for longdistance trips were under consideration. These licenses, about four to each taxi organisation, permitted the purchase of petrol from any reseller while any car was engaged on"a long-distance trip. The controller sought the views of the authority on such long-distance trips being undertaken by taxis, particularly when alternative scrviw car or railway transit could l»e availed of.

The i-hairmun. Mr. \V. 11. Xhjjlc. *>»i«l lie was prepared to move that these long-distance trips originating in the metropolitan area should lw forbidden, except in eases of urgency. Anything that was simply a luxury should "not be encouraged. Mr. J. A. C. Allum said that the Authority «•«« not competent to express an opinion on this matter. The inquiry should be made to the No. 1 Licensing Authority, who controlled the services out-side tlie metropolitan area. A motion on these lines was passed, it being decided to point out that the Authority did not feel itself competent to express an opinion, but that any information available would be passed on. Higher Allocation. After fully discussing the restricted monthly allocation of petrol on the individual basis, it was decided to advise the Oil Fuel Controller of the steps being taken by the Authority to reorganise the taxi business in Auckland and request that for April the allocation be increased to 130 gallons for single shifts and 180 gallons for double shifts. Mr. Xaglo said that the report was imminent, and he thought some latitude •should be given to enablo the industry to function reasonably well durinp the month, following which there would be a general discussion of the whole position. Breaches of Licenses? The allegation that petrol restrictions would force licensees to commit breaches of the terms of their licenses was made by the seerotary of the Checker Taxicab Society. He [minted out that if a taxicab did any of the following acts he committed a breach of his license:—lf disengaged, he refused to accept a hiring; if he charged individual fares; if he held himself out as going to a specific district; if he curtailed his service; if he abandoned his service; if he failed to earn the amount prescribed by the regulations; if he failed to pay his employee the amount prescribed by the regulations. "In view of the petrol restrictions licensees will be forced to commit at least some of these breaches,"' added the secretary, in seeking a direction irom the Authority. It was decided to take no action in the matter. Mr. Allum pointed out that some of the points raised were not within the jurisdiction of the Authority, and application should be made to the Minister of Transport. Mr. A. S. .Bailey: If taxi driv rs are forced as a whole to break the terms of their licenses, it could bo used by tiiem as an argument in support of their applications for more petrol. Mrs, M. M. Dreaver: Is that a form of strike? They have a case, and we should do all we can to help. It is a matter of their livelihood against the luxury of private people. !