"NO FREEDOM"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 111, 12 May 1943, Page 4

"NO FREEDOM"

TAXICAB CONTROL

LEGISLATION CRITICISED

"This legislation is a novelty; it doesn't conform to any system except Fascism. These men own the cars, they supply the capital which provides for petrol and repairs, and, more than that, they bring in their personal effort. But under these directions they have no say in the running of their busipess. They are told when they shall work and when they shall not. They have no freedom," said Mr. Finlay at the meeting of the Metropolitan Licensing Authority yesterday afternoon when appearing for a number of appellants against the Taxicab Control Committee's directions.

No scheme, said Mr. Finlay, could be a success without the co-operation of the men themselves. The Control Committee's directions had met with a tidal wave of opposition.

Replying to the criticisms of counsel for the appellants, Mr. V. R. Meredith, counsel for the Control Committee, said the Government considered it necessai-y under war conditions that there should be control of many businesses besides that of the taximen. The directions, now the subject of the appeals, were virtually the dictation of the Minister of Transport, Mr. O'Brien. The position, boiled down, was: Who is to decide as to what services are to be rendered? The Minister, through the Control Committee, or the operators? Fair to All The number of cars to be rostered had been fixed by the Minister, said Mr. Meredith. . The roster system was fair to all operators. At present there was no means of ascertaining whether any particular licensee had been on the road for duty on any day in any week, a most unsatisfactory state of affairs.

Mr. Meredith submitted that the operators had shown nothing to justify their contention that the directions were either against public interest or created hardship. What had been said on their behalf merely showed a disinclination to be controlled in the public interest.

Mr. Richmond said there were many appeals based upon hardship or religious grounds to be heard. The chairman of the Licensing Authority said the hearing of those appeals could be heard at a later date. In the meantime decision would be reserved upon the appeals heard.