Licences For Special Wedding Cars Sought

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28868, 13 April 1959, Page 8

Licences For Special Wedding Cars Sought

Two applications for licences to introduce a private taxi hire service for the carriage of wedding parties within the Christchurch Transport District were opposed by the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Taxi-drivers’ Federation at a meeting of the Metropolitan Licensing Authority on Friday. After hearing the submissions the authority, comprising the chairman, the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr G. Manning), Cr. H. P. Smith, Cr. W. E. Olds, and the Christchurch City Council traffic superintendent (Mr G. P. Kellar) reserved its decision. The two applicants, John Dunn, and Arthur Derek Gant, for whom Mr J. S. Haywood appeared, told the authority they proposed to operate white American cars solely for wedding parties. Mr H. W. Hunter represented the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Taxi-drivets’ Federation. Giving evidence to the authority, Dunn said the service provided by one taxi-cab firm in Christchurch was not adequate. “They are the ordinary run of cars; they are not up to service and oddcoloured cars attend the weddings,” he said. “The dressing of the cars is makeshift, the seat covers are inadequate for the brides and bridesmaids and some of the English cars used are not roomy enough.” Invercargill Service

Dunn said he went to Invercargill in February, 1958, to examine a similar hire service to the one proposed, which had been in operation for some time. “The business has prospered and they cannot cope with all the business—the popularity is indicated by the requests they receive from Dunedin, 140 miles away.” he said. “Christchurch city and the suburbs could support a similar scheme.”

He had the finance for the purchase of a suitable vehicle if the authority granted a licence, and would be happy to take the normal risk of a new venture, Dunn said.

He estimated that roughly 30 per cent, of brides would prefer the service he hoped to offer. He realised there were many Saturday weddings, but, he said, there

was an increasing tendency for weddings to be held during the week to enable persons to obtain the best service.

To Mr Hunter, Dunn said he put in his application in November, 1957, before he sold his ordinary taxi licence.

The other applicant, Gant, said that Dunn and he proposed that the business be known as “Wedding Car Services.” He proposed to obtain a £2OOO American car which, with Dunn’s car, would be painted off-white. Publicity would be used to introduce the venture.

Gant said that under the present taxi licence he could not operate exclusively for weddings, as one of the terms of the licence was to accept orders from any member of the public. Dismissal Sought

Asking the authority to dismiss the applications before any further evidence. Mr Hunter said: “The vast majority of weddings are on Saturday and there is no evidence that the taxi proprietors do not handle weddings properly. “The authority will be aware of what happened to Rink Taxis a few years ago. That venture was not economical and they had to apply to this authority to change from private licence to a public licence,’’ he said. “There is no evidence to suggest that this position has changed.” After considering Mr Hunter’s application during a three-minute adjournment, the authority said the hearing would continue.

Jack William Smith, manager of Gold Band Taxis Incorporated, said he considered Dunn and Gant would be lucky to make £l2 gross on a Saturday and very little during the week. “It would not be economic,” he added.

The Invercargill firm which Dunn said specialised in weddings worked under the ordinary licence. “We have got men who specialise in weddings, without special licences,” said Thomas William Hogg, secretary of the Christchurch branch of the federation.

Similar evidence was given by two other members of the federation.

After submissions by Mr Hunter and Mr Haywood, the authority reserved its decision.