AGE LIMIT ON TAXIS

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32344, 9 July 1970, Page 12

AGE LIMIT ON TAXIS

Suggestion To Authority

Consideration should be given to limiting the age of cars owned by successful ap plicants for new taxi licences, the president of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Taxi Proprietors’ Asso nation (Mr J. M. Doody) submitted to the Licensing. Authority of the Canterbury Transport District, Mr J. M. Dwyer, yesterday. Fifty of the 100 applications for the 20 new continuous taxi licences were heard by Mr Dwyer yesterday. The remaining applications will be made today. Mr Doody said that aftei | the two previous licence issues a number of the cars brought into service were outdated, some being 10 years old. He suggested that a limit be placed on the age of cars, no models before 1965 or 1966 being accepted. There had been a considerable change in taxi requirements since the introduction of 10 o’clock closing in hotels and the growth in popularity of “housie” evenings. These new factors added to the burden of supplying cars at night when they clashed with the end of picture shows and other entertainments, Mr Doody said.

Persons who had conducted taxi businesses for some years should receive equal consideration to applicants with less experience, Mr Doody said in informing Mr Dwyer of the federation’s support for applications from current licence-holders seeking a second licence. Mr E. H. Quinn, for the Ministry of Transport, said the policy of one-man, one cab should not be altered unless very good reasons were given for doing so.