MUST GO

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 79, 30 September 1930, Page 10

MUST GO

SYDNEY'S TAXI BUSES

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

SYDNEY, 25th September.

It is some months now since a system of taxi-buses was introduced into Sydney, and, considering the benefits they bestowed on the residents of outlying suburbs it is not surprising that they should have gained a great deal of popularity. It was not long before they became a serious menace to the trams, already a losing proposition. The authorities made several moves to force the taxvbuses off the streets, but the traffic laws were so framed that the proprietors of the services had little difficulty in keeping within them. Prosecution after prosecution followed, but the taxis remained,' and now they are carrying' more than 5000 people to the city every day. In some cases the taxis have reduced'the time for a journey to the city by as much as 40 minutes, and the fares have uot been greatly'in excess of the trams. Passengers, have willingly paid the small difference in order to benefit by the greater speed and the greater comfort. The comfort of travel has not been a notable factor, however, as the taxis are almost invariably overcrowded. '

When all else failed the Government brought into existence the Transport Trust, which, beside having complete charge of the tramways, has been given a great deal of lattitude in dealing with all forms of transport. It is empowered to deal with all cases of overlapping as far as transport is concerned, and as it is solely responsible for the financing of the trams, there is every indication that it will deal harshly with any competition from which the trams are suffering. Already it has decided that 125 of the taxi buses must go. Nobody will be permitted to run a taxi bus of any description without the payment of an almost prohibitive license fee, and even so, the trust is under no obligation to grant a licence. It has already intimated that licences will be granted only to services which are providing feeders for the trams.

Tho taxi ovrners say that they are not competing with the trams for the reason that they are charging more than the trams, and that the picking up places are some distanco from the tram lines. They arc convinced that tho public wnnt the taxis, so they are going to fight to the last ditch; as it were. So great are the powers of the trust that they will probably land in tho ditch all right. The only thing that may save them is public opinion, which is undoubtedly in their favour. However, it is certain that tho trams cannot go on loping thousands weekly as they are to-day, and the public may sec this point of view, though that is doubtful. As matters stand now tho taxi buses have until the end of tho month to get off the streets and make way for the trams.