“Knock And Step Back Three Paces”

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30536, 3 September 1964, Page 1

“Knock And Step Back Three Paces”

(Neto Zealand Press Association)

NELSON, September 2. The attitude of the Auckland taxi-drivers is: “Once bitten, twice shy.” At the New Zealand Taxi Proprietors* Federaation annual conference at Nelson today Auckland drivers moved a remit asking for legislation requiring owners of dogs to place signs on their premises advising that they owned a dog so that taxi-drivers, who are required by the regulations to knock on the doors of houses, would be warned that a dog was there. The remit was rejected. In support of the remit they told of instances of taxi-drivers being attacked by house pets while picking up fares. Mr F. Dickey said he had been attacked by a fox terrier which had bitten his leg and ripped his £6 trousers. The law required drivers to announce themselves in

person, but he thought they should be given some protection against the possibility of a savage dog. Mr G. Hunter also told of a case where a driver was “bowled” over by an Alsatian which had been on a short leash inside the door when the man called. A Dunedin delegate, Mr H. Newall, speaking against the proposal, said the answer was to “knock and step back three paces.” Another Auckland delegate, Mr H. V. Davies, said the Auckland branch was very concerned about the safety of the drivers. "This matter Is a bone of contention,” he said. Other delegates felt that the display of notices warning of dogs would provide another "loophole" for drivers who argued against having to announce themselves.