URGENT TAXI CALLS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 250, 21 July 1942, Page 3

URGENT TAXI CALLS

Earmarking Of Petrol Suggested Lack of taxis in the Hutt Valley at times so that transport could not be obtained in urgent maternity cases, ’was discussed by the Petone Borough. Council last night, and the council decided to bring the complaint to. the notice of the Oil Fuel Controller, Mr. G. L. Laurensou, with the suggestion that each taxi proprietor be allocated a quantity of petrol for use only in emergencies. The deputy-mayor, Mr. H. Green, said a doctor had told him of expectant mothers who found they could not get taxis when it was time for them to go to hospital. After failing to get a taxi by direct application or with the help of the police, one woman had staggered half a mile to hospital. Another had got an ambulance from Wellington to take her from Petone to Lower Hutt. The council had no jurisdiction over the taxis,l but it could make representations to the Oil Fuel Controller. Apparently the taxis used up their petrol and then when an important order was received they could not fill it. The doctor intended to bring the subject before the British Medical Association. Agreeing that the matter was serious, Cr. J. Cumming suggested that a woman should engage a taxi some days beforehand, and then the taxi proprietor would reserve petrol for the Jrip mid could answer the call when it came. He proposed that part of a taxi's petrol be earmarked for taking people to hospital.