"JUST, A CRUST"

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 8, 9 July 1931, Page 10

"JUST, A CRUST"

TAXI-CAK WAE

UNI JCENSED MACHINES ?

Two correspondents, "Taxi" and "Licensed Car," write complaining of the operations of certain drivers whose machines, they maintain, are not properly licensed. One of the writers says that Certain drivers who were recently deprived of their licences for misdemeanours aro also still acting as taxi men,; and, ho alleges, in unlicensed cars. He points' out'" that whereas .passengers : riding in licensed taxi cars aro financially protected in the event of an accident, through the special thirdparty insurance fee charged for public service machines, passengers riding in unlicensed cars have no such protection- " ' ' BEDROCK FARES. Thicre is no doubt that there is something 1 of a "taxi war" on just now in Wellington, and fares are cut very fine indeed, to such an extent that, though the public may bo enjoying taxi travel to a, much greater extent than in tho past! the drivers are in many cases "just getting a crust." Ta'.sis arc running botwecn Lower Huttt, Petone, aud AVellington at bus fareis, and a more ambitious run has now been commenced between the city and. Upper Hutt. In the Hutt Valley, too,' taxi fares are down to nincpence per • car mile, which means very cheap transport for a party of three or four. Ii; is rumoured that very shortly there will bo further competition in city and suburban work, in a line of taxi's with headquarters in Auckland.

Just how long the war can last is uncertain, and one driver to whom a "Piost" reporter spoke to-day admitted thaU" over tho whole day tho HuttWeJUington run at a shilling per passcnuger allowed no margin for maintenance, tires, and There was just enough in it, he said, to cover' benzine and to enable him to semteh along at homo, but from his point of view that was considerably bet;tor than doing nothing aud having no! hing at all coming in.