TAXI-CABS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13336, 30 January 1909, Page 5

TAXI-CABS.

TO BE INTRODUCED IN* CHRIST-

CHURCH

One of the features of London andother cities that striko tho colonial visitor most forcibly is tho taxi-cab system, which has been in vogue for some years past. These are motorcabs, having attached to them aa indicator ■which records the distance ti-.veiled and the faro to be paid. Instead of leaving tho faro to he assessed according to the consscienco of the driver—in some places iho latter being rather of an elastic character— tho amount is recorded on th© indicator. The passenger has therefore a check on the driver and knows exactly tho amount ho has to pay. Christchurch has always held the enviable record of possessing the best horses and onb_ in the Dominion, if not in Australasia, and to this will shortly be added that of being the first to introduce taxi-cabs in any number. At present there is one in Napier, but there are none in any other part of New Zealand. The credit, for this enterprise is due to Messrs Hnyward and' Co., of the Rink JStables, who. in conjunction with a syndicate, intend introducing a number of the new vehicles at an earlydate. A member of the staff of '"The Press""' interviewed Mr Hayward' yesterday on tho subject. Jn answer to a question whether it was correct that they wero about to introduce taxi-oabs. to_ Christcbui-h. llr Hayward said I'Yes, it is quite true; we, in conjunction with :i syndicate, have a dozen on order. The first instalment is to arrive here by the Tongariro. They would have beon iv Chistckurch tioiv had it not been for the accident which the steamer met with. Some of these will bo placed on tho stands, and others can be ordered from the Rink like ordinary cabs. With respect to tlie question as to how tho tariff of the taxi-cabs will fit in with tho present by-law, I cannot say until they arriv© what tariff the indicators havo been set to. But when tho taxi-meter system is brought into operation., tho indicators can be altered, if necessary, to suit the tariff now in force here. It would not bo possible, so far as I can see at present, to run. the taxicabs by the mile at the present tariff, but for short runs such as are dono every day by ordinary cabs the local tariff could be applied. They aro built to carry two or lour, and their speed is of cotirso greater than that of the ordinary horso cab, as they can be driven up to 25 miles per hour. The taxi-cabs wo aro ordering are what tire known as the Renault, and two-thirds of the taxi-cabs now in use in London are Renault cabs. Tlie comfort and' convenience of these cabs has been so strongly brought before our notice bycolonists who have been on a. visit to England', that wo decided' to try tho experiment of introducing them into Christchurch, and l in a very short timo wo hope to havo them going. I feel certain that they will bo very largely patronised by the public here, as: they arc such a distinct advance, -upon the present cabs in every way."