AUCKLAND TAXI-MEN

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 74, 21 December 1937, Page 12

AUCKLAND TAXI-MEN

Prison Rather Than Pay Fines APPEAL TO MINISTER By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, December 20. An unexpected sequel to the recent prosecution of several Auckland taxidrivers who were charged with conducting unlicensed transport services when the tourist ship Strathmore was in Auckland in November was provided when a statement was issued by five of the men who have elected to serve prison sentences rather than pay the lines imposed. When they appeared before Mr. C. R. On* Walker, S.M., the drivers were fined £5 each with costs.

In a statement the men say the fines were imposed for "an honest endeavour to earn a livelihood by taking overseas visitors to see what they wish in ‘God’s own country’—not on our part for a wilful breach of a law made by Order-in-Council overnight. There is not one of us who can afford to pay the fine, owing to the persistent dictatorial persecution we have had meted out to' us during the past two years. Yet again, there is not one of us who can afford to turn down absolutely legitimate business (for which we have been specialising for years) because our No. 1 licensing authority decides to give the business exclusively to a chosen few.” It wars also claimed that there was nothing in the Act to say who was to be granted a licence and who was not. The men claim that as owner-drivers they took a personal interest in their passengers. The men received a telegram this morning from the Minister of Transport, Hon. R. Semple, starting that he had been advised that 16 vehicles were already licensed under the Transport Act for tourist traffic, and that if additional cars were required further licences would be issued. An appeal could not be determined until he had heard submissions from all the parties interested, and if a formal appeal were lodged with the prescribed fee it would determine the position for future occasions.

Mr. A. R. de Balfour, manager of the International Bureau, who was fined £lO with costs for counselling and procuring breaches of the regulations, left for Wellington to-night, and will place the matter before the Minister. He stated that a promise had been made that temporary licences would be granted to the International Tourist Bureau for all its cars, as it had been explained that the drivers concerned were under contract to the bureau. He did not attach any blame to the Minister, to whom he intended to present the facts of the whole affair. Mr. de Balfour added that those of the men who had asked for time to pay had been granted until January 15, otherwise the men would be liable to the penalty for default. The five drivers who signed the statement were L. Davys, F. Laver, 11. Chambers, W. H. G. Woods, anil V. Sefont.