FEWER TAXIS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 122, 19 November 1937, Page 11

FEWER TAXIS

CHRISTCHURCH DISTRICT

WAGES AND FARES

(By Telegraph—Press 4*s°?iation.)

CHRISTCHURCH, November 18,

The number of taxi-cabs operating in.the Christchiirch Transport District is to be reduced from 165 t0.134. This pronouncement was made by the Metropolitan Transport Licensing Authority for, the Christchureh district which also: announced its acceptance of the principle of basing fares on- "cab miles" rather than oiy "passenger miles." Directions were , also made by the licensing authority- regarding wages to be paid to taxi drivers, and the announcement was also made that "the system of payment by way of commission!,on earnings is prohibited." , <

The licensing authority held two public sittings in Christchureh, one In September .and the, other' in Qctober, to, receive evidence and representations in favour of or against the granting of applications for passenger service licences. Eighty-four persons made applications for licences in respect of 157 vehicles.

Today's meeting of the authority was presided over by the Mayor, Mr. J. Wißeanland, and associated with him were Councillors T. Milliken, «L S. Barriett, and E. Parlane. Gold Band Taxis Ltd., represented by Mr. C. S. Trillo, which had applied for 52 licences, was granted 42, and the Rink Taxis Ltd., whicfr had applied for 23 licences, was granted 21. The remaining 71 licences were granted to private individuals each operating only one taxi cab. The licences commence today and expire on March 31, 1938. The wages of drivers are to be award wages where an award is in force, otherwise they" are to be not less than £4 10s- a week, plus an additional 2s for every hour in excess of ten hours spent'in driving a taxi within any period of 24 hours during that week. The system of payment by way of commission on earnings is 'prohibited.