MINISTER'S STATEMENT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 37, 13 February 1943, Page 3

MINISTER'S STATEMENT

"TOO MUCH JOY-RIDING"

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. "I am far from satisfied with the taxi situation in some of the main towns, and particularly in Auckland and Wellington," said the Minister of Transport, Mr. O'Brien, in an interview. "There is far too much joy-riding and too little service to the public. "Because of the restrictions in the use of private cars, taxis are to-day the most important link in our public passenger transport service, as they are often the only means of terminal transport available to passengers from trains and steamers, particularly in the case of people with young families and luggage, sick people and the aged. "The taxi drivers are allowed adequate petrol to enable them to cater for essential traffic, and to make reasonable livings, but the plain fact to-day is that a large proportion of this essential traffic is not being catered for," said the Minister. "Many taxi drivers are doing their best to meet the essential needs of the public, but others are concentrating on non-essential and more lucrative kinds of traffic. "The Government finds petrol and tyres to enable taxis to give service to the people," said the Minister. "If the present restrictions are not sufficient to cut out the joy-riding which is being indulged in to the detriment of the general- public, it will be necessary for me to impose further restrictions in the near future."