EX-SERVICEMEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 295, 13 December 1943, Page 4

EX-SERVICEMEN

TAXI LICENSES

INDUSTRY'S ATTITUDE

Because when times are normal the position of a taxi-driver• ma> become uneconomic the taxi induJ> will oppose any further ice being granted to ex-servicemen 01 civilians. At the sametime i ? dustry is prepared t0 | iv^ ia e^e n assistance to returned seiviceme when it is warranted. These statements were , clay to the Auckland Transpoi t. Boai d (sitting as the Metropollita:n 1 L ing Authority) by Mr. W. G. B. bcou, chairman of the management mittee of the Auckland Taxi Sei vices Mr. Scott was opposing the of a taxi license to Cecil A. , a returned soldier. In addition to members of the Authority there were present Messi s. Drumm and Sinclair (Auckland Taxi Services). Mr. E. J. Hamlett tri habilitation Committee), Mr. Postlewaite (Auckland Returned Seivices' Association), and Mr. Goldstine (for the applicant). A lengthy report drawn up by tne sub-committee of the Authority gave a survey of the private taxicab Position in Auckland, and recommended to the Authority that an investigation of the private hire taxi services be made when an appeal regarding their conversion to public taxis was decided. It was also recommended that, in order to determine whether the existing number of taxis was sufficient to meet the reasonable wartime needs of the district without exceeding the number required to meet the estimated normal peacetime requirements, the hearing of the application by Dugdale should be taken as a test case.

Dealing with transfers of licenses, it was recommended that in future no transfers be granted to persons already holding a license. The report was adopted.

'Returned Men's Priority

In opening the case for Dugdale, the applicant for a license, Mr. Goldstine said all returned servicemen throughout the Dominion would be interested in the decision which the authority wouia eventually give. The Chairman (Mr. Magic): Instead of finding out if there is room for one new license we are going into the whole position, and if we find there should be an extension in the number we shall then have to decide the proportion. Mr. Goldstine contended that the authority should be concerned with the position as it was to-day, not what it might be after the war. Despite the good work done by the taxi control committee, there were times when it was most difficult to get a taxi, and he submitted that it was evident additional licenses should be granted. The question of the rehabilitation of returned men was most important.

Mr. Nagle: The civilian now can only come in when the needs of exservicemen have been considered.

Mr. L. Alderton, chairman of the Taxi Control Committee, presented a report of a confcrence between his committee and the Metropolitan Licensing Authority. On two days in September telephone* orders were checked. On the first day there were 3100 calls and 552 were complied with. On the second day 2253 orders were received and 932 compiled with. In addition there would be many hail orders. In his opinion there were several reasonably necessary services not being met. His committee had recommended an increase in licenses of not fewer than 10 per cent, not necessarily to be made immediately.

In the abnormal circumstances obtaining to-day there could be 100 per cent increase to meet the demand at peak times, although he did not for a moment suggest such an increase, continued Mr. Alderton. The committee held that there should be some increase because the demand by visiting servicemen was so keen that the public suffered.

Further evidence is being heard,