Taxi-fare Increases For Christchurch Granted

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31221, 19 November 1966, Page 16

Taxi-fare Increases For Christchurch Granted

Increases in taxi fares in Christchurch city to offset additional Operating costs have been granted the Canterbury branch of the Taxi Proprietors’ Federation by the Commissioner of Transport. The federation applied for the increases, the first since October 1963. Appeals against the increases must be lodged with the Transport Charges Appeals Authority by December 12.

The increases are effective immediately. The main result of the Increases is a 6d a mile extra charge after the first mile, but the increase will be felt on long journeys rather than short trips. Formerly, for up to two passengers, the charge was 2s 6d for the first halfmile, and 6d for each additional half mile. Under the new schedule, the first two-thirds of a mile cost 2s 6d, and the charge is 6d for each third of a mile thereafter. A clause which ! formerly specified an extra 6d on each fare of 5s or more has been dropped. Consequently, a mile journey will now cost 3s, the same as formerly. A two-mile jour-

ney will cost 6d more than before, at 4s 6d, but, because of the dropping of the extra 6d for fares over ss, a threemile journey which formerly cost 5s 6d will now cost 6s. A four-mile journey will cost 7s 6d, compared with the former 6s 6d. Other clauses in the schedule, relating to extra charges for telephone hire (6d), waiting time, wedding and funeral charges, hourly rates, and the carrying of such items as bicycles, prams and luggage, remain unchanged, as do extra charges for night hire, and multiple hiring scales. A new clause sets an hourly rate for tourist and sightseeing trips. Where previous arrangements are made, these trips may be charged at 27s 6d for the first hour and 6s for each additional quarter hour, but in order to qualify for this rate hires must be arranged through the office of the taxi organisation or through a recognised tourist agency. The rate does not preclude the charging of ord inary schedule rates in appropriate cases, for instance country-running rates where trips of long mileage are undertaken.