URBAN TRANSPORT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 59, 10 March 1944, Page 6

URBAN TRANSPORT

CONTROL IN MELBOURNE

TAXI AM) BUS .SERVICES

The method adopted in Melbourne for the control of the taxi services was described yesterday by Mr. A. J Fraser, director of emergency road transport in Victoria, who is the leader of an Australian transport delegation now in New Zealand on an. investigational tour.

Mr. Fraser said that in Melbourne 500 cabs —200 more than in Auckland—catered for a population of 1,250,000. They were run on a similar roster system to those in Auckland, and the monthly petrol allowance was (i 0 gallons, compared with 100 in Auckland. Work of an unessential nature had been eliminated, and no taxis were allowed to accept fares for distances exceeding live miles. Only cabs engaged for essential work were authorised to operate between the hours of 0.30 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Mr. Fraser said that all taxis allotted to stands had to return to their stands after fares had been carried. The only stands covered by roster were transport terminals, hospitals and similar places. All taxis were divided into groups, of which there were seven. There was a leader for each group, who was responsible for the behaviour of members of the group, and it was his duty to ensure that all drivers attended their appointed places on the roster.

The type of trailer bus now being used in' Melbourne was also described by Mr. Fraser. He said the buses had eight wheels and were attached to the chassis of heavy Service lorries. The seating capacity was about 70. Some of the buses were designed to take as many as 112 seated. The main .work of the buses was to transport workers for urgent defence jobs and to essential inUustries.