Evidence Of Need For More Taxis In Chch

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32280, 24 April 1970, Page 24

Evidence Of Need For More Taxis In Chch

Forty-one new taxi | licences were needed in Christchurch bringing the total in the city to 304—t0 provide an efficient service, the senior investigating officer of the Ministry of Transport in Christchurch (Mr N. D. Henderson) told the Christchurch Transport District Licensing Authority (Mr J. M. Dwyer) yesterday. The Authority was conducting a review of taxi services in the Christchurch district Legislation requires such a review at intervals of no more than three years. It was apparent that the reasonable public demands were not being met by the existing number of licences, Mr Henderson said in a 20page report he put before the Authority. The public was entitled to much more prompt service than could be given at present, and extra cabs were the only remedy, Mr Henderson said. The prevalence of illegal multiple hiring must be accepted as a failure of the present taxis to cope with demand. From complaints regarding multiple hiring it was pertinent to note that not only were the hires illegal, but that over-charging occurred in almost all instances. With traffic control of the city now the responsibility of the Ministry of Transport, action would be taken if illegal multiple hiring persisted. Multiple hiring was permitted from the railway station, from stands in the Square for two hours from 11.30 p.m. on weekdays, and 10.30 p.m. on Sunday, and from Addington Raceway after night trotting.

Mr Henderson said that in 1965 33 new licences were granted after a review, but in a 1968 review decision, no action was taken.

In 1965 a ratio of 900 persons a cab was considered realistic, Mr Henderson said. Because of population increase, this ratio would now require another 24 licences.

But the development of Christchurch as a tourist centre must also reflect an increase in demand for taxis. The increase in tourist traffic was “phenomenal.” The increase in overseas ' traffic since 1965 was 78.2 per cent.

He considered that the ratio should be reduced to 850 persons a cab, Mr Henderson said. On this basis 41 new licences would be needed. In comparison, Auckland had 432 persons a cab, Wellington 437, and Dunedin 746. Mr Henderson said the number of passengers carried by the Christchurch Transport Board had decreased by about 2.5 million since 1965. The 33 new licences granted in 1965 did not reduce the amounts being paid for good will the figure had re mained about $5OOO for the last three years. The 1965 increase in licenses did not, from an analysis of log books, require an increase in hours worked for taxies to earn a satisfac tory income. Mr Henderson said that on weekdays there were delays at taxi-stands between noon and 2 p.m. On Fridays cus tomers had to wait in the noon to 9.30 p.m. period. On a Friday between 4.30 and 6.15 p.m. average waiting times at the three main stands ranged between 15 and 30 minutes. Mr Henderson thanked the Christchurch taxi organisa tions for the co-operation shown him when he was pre paring the report. He said the two organisations con ceded 20 extra licences were

needed, IQ to each organisation. Mr R. A. Young, .for the Canterbury branch of the Taxi Proprietors’ Federation and the Blue Star Taxi organisation, said some of the points in Mr Henderson's report could be dispu ted and said the industry felt it could absorb a maximum of 20 new licences. This would add half a mil lion passenger miles a year, and about 160,000 extra hirings a year. If the offer of 20 new licences was acceptable to the authority he would make no further submissions, Mr Young said. Otherwise his clients would wish the review procedure to be continued, with the cross-examination of Mr Henderson and the right to call evidence. The regional secretary for Transport (Mr D. L. Hogan) said the industry’s offer was appreciated, and "the proof of the pudding might be in the eating.” A new review could be brought on at any time. For Gold Band Services Ltd, Mr T. W. Hogg said there was little he could add to Mr Young’s submissions with which he agreed. The hearing was adjourned to this afternoon, consequent upon the hearing today of an individual application for a private hire taxi licence.