Future of taxis still uncertain

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33815, 11 April 1975, Page 1

Future of taxis still uncertain

Bu

>ur transport reporter,

After 10 months of litigation, argument and ill-feeling, the future of at least part of Christchurch’s taxi services remains in doubt. Yesterday was to be the day on which the holders of 24 new taxi licences granted by the Christchurch District Transport Licensing Authority (Mr J. M. Dwyer) were to he directed to ioin either the Blue Star or Gold Band organisations. The economic future of Gold Band is said to be uncertain — unless it gets more cabs There are fears that j failing this, the Christchurch •

taxi industry t’lay become a ■monopoly, to the detriment of Jthe industry and service to I the public. But yesterday the future of only eight drivers was fixed. 'Already with the Gold Band organisation, and wishing to ! remain there, they were [ directed officially to do so. [ The future of the other 16 ■licensees, most of whom are with Blue Star and wish to remain there, is likely to be fixed — possiblv with one or 'two exceptions — at a further hearing on April 17. Another matter to be deter- ; mined is that of 10 licensees I who transferred from one organisation tn the other, i against the intention of then

t' licences, with the result that f | Gold Band lost eight licences I ) I which it should have retained. I This matter, and the direc- • fition of new licensees to or- . j ganisations, may have a 1 ! direct bearing on the future > I of Gold Band. i i At the hearing yesterday ■ [Mr W. G. A. Young, for Blue 5 i Star, submitted that the “'Authority had no jurisdiction jlto direct which organisations! e the licensees would join. The r same submission was later - advanced by other counsel. But Mr Dwyer held that he - i did have such jurisdiction, s | and accordingly went on with ■-'the hearing. ■, | All he was interested in r was hearing particular rea-

isons for . licensees staying 'with a particular organisation, or joining another, he | said. To a suggestion that an appeal was pending under the I relevant legislation, and that 'the matter should be adjourned until the appeal decision was known, Mr Dwyer said that because the Christ- : church question had been so [protracted he wished to ■‘•move ahead.” Several of the new licensees said in evidence, or through counsel, that they [were with the Blue Star organisation, had earlier links with the ogganisation in some, instances, and wished to re-

mam with it —although some said they would comply with whatever direction the Au;h ority gave In a decision on March 24 confirming the issue of 2new licences — on appeal the Authority had been re quired to reconsider the num ber of new licences — M Dwyer said that the economi situation of the Gold Ban' organisation was not good and that it could not b settled until the whole reviev was concluded. 1 he Christchurch tat licence proceedings wet "long and acrimonious.” I said, and the matter of t' licences must he settled a soon as possible.