TAXI-STAND CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 243, 8 July 1921, Page 4

TAXI-STAND CONTROL

TWO LICENSES CANCELLED DISCIPLINARY ACTION BY COUNCIL Mr. I’. Levi, representing a taxi-driver whose license the By-laws Committee proposed to cancel for ' stand jumping, appeared before the City Council last night to plead for the offender, who, he admitted, had used a stand other than the one drawn in the ballot. He maintained that the system was quite wrong, as on some stands a decent living could bo made, but on others, such as the Printing ’ Office stand, they might not got more than one fare per week. lie also pointed out that trafficking with the stands was being done. Mr. O’Donnell, who appeared for another man concerned, quoted instances where taxi-drivers had sold their places on the stand. It seemed to him unfair that a man’s livelihood should depend on the tossing of a coin or the drawing of a marble. Prior to the adoption of the system his client earned a good livelihood, but since he had drawn a place at the Public Trust Office he had not averaged 10s. a day. The Mayor informed Messrs. I<evi and O’Donnell that the matter would be further looked into. Later on Councillor M. F. Luckie outlined the causes which had brought about the ballot svstem—fights on the stands, the condition of the stands, trouble over boras calls, and difficulties through overcharging, and the tracing of lost luggage All thev could do was to abolish all public stands and adopt private stands, which was perfectly within the rights of the Council. That they had done a. wise thing was borne out by the reduced number of complaints, and the increased satisfaction the taxi service was giving the public. Ho moved that the licenses of the two men concerned be cancelled, inasmuch as they bad broken the regulations they had undertaken to keep. The council had either to take a firm stand or allow the business to lapse back into the bad old way. Ho was backed by the By-laws Connmttee, and he hoped he would receive the support of the whole of the council. Councillor Bum seconded the motion. Councillor C. H. Chapman said that there had been cases where prople had been over-charged by taxf-cab drivers, but since the new svstem was adopted they had been able to trace offenders more readily than before. Unfortunately the taxi business seemed to attract a proportion of men who were no credit to i • Councillor AV. H Bonnett. ren. X"‘ “ X P ”S <>.. *“■ (“b troubles were occurring in other wS had written to Welling on find out bow the new system lias vol King here aud were adopting’ it- t The motion was carried unamnm.isly.