Litter at taxi stands

Press, 4 March 1978, Page 14

Litter at taxi stands

Sir, — Would the taxi companies tell the public of Christchurch what their drivers intend doing about the rubbish thrown from taxis at the taxi stand at the Linwood Avenue shopping centre and the unmarked stand at Garrack Park’s Ferry Road entrance (the triangular plot by the river). There are generally two or three taxis parked at both places: at Linwood in the mornings, at midday, and in the afternoons; in Ferry' Road most evenings and on Saturday. This disgusting mess consists of icecream sticks, milk shake cartons, hamburger bags, chip bags, chips, and cigarette butts. Taxi drivers like to keep their cars immaculate. Why do they not help look after the city streets the same way — Yours, etc., B. SALISBURY. February 22, 1978. [The general manager of Blue Star Taxis (Chch) Society, Ltd (Mr M. J. Malone), replies: “Your correspondent appears to blame the taxis for all the litter left lying around at the Linwood Avenue shopping centre. A number of reasons exist for litter at taxi stands. It is brought about mainly by insufficient containers, channelling not swept regularly by the council, passengers arriving for cabs with a certain amount of litter such as ice cream cartons, soft drink cans, etc. Recently the executive of the N.Z. Taxi Proprietors’ Federation (Canterbury bra-.ch) visited another taxi stand in the northern part of the city and found litter of a similar nature and, in addition, at a noint onnosite the taxi stand, the litter

and soil in the channel was piled high and no taxis were involved in this particular area. If the correspondent has actually seen a driver disposing of litter, I would be happy to receive his or her complaint.”]