Taxi Licence Hearings Continued

Press, Issue 32345, 10 July 1970, Page 5

Taxi Licence Hearings Continued

The Licensing Authority for the Christchurch Transport District (Mr J. M. Dwyer) continued his hearings yesterday on 100 applications for taxi licences to fill the first increase in the Christchurch taxi fleet for [five years. Only 20 new licences will’ be granted, after the Ministry of Transport's recommend-] ation in April that the size] of the fleet be increased by] up to 40 vehicles. The additional taxis will swell the number in the city from 268 to 288. The hearings began on Wednesday, and will continue today and on Monday. Some of the applications—many of which are from parttime drivers or former licence-holders were withdrawn or held over yesterday, and today's hearings and those on Monday will only be the overflow from the main listing. I The authority, however, twill not name the successful applicants immediately the l last application is heard, and lit is expected his decision will I not be announced for some time. I Most of yesterday's appli-

cations were presented by the applicants themselves, although some engaged lawyers to act for them. Each outlined to the authority in a sworn statement his driving experience, his qualifications, and his reasons for seeking [the licence. Some of the applicants [sought a licence for an additional vehicle so they could [expand their operations [within the framework of the •Gold Band and Blue Star taxi groups to two cars. All were asked to satisfy the authority that their vehicles conformed to the standard suggested on Wednesday [by the president of the Canterbury branch of the New [Zealand Taxi Proprietors’ [Association <Mr J. M. Doody). ’ Mr Doody suggested then that the vehicles used by the new licence-holders should be models built after 1965 or 1966 to prevent outdated cars coming into use as taxis.