TAXIMEN’S PLIGHT

Evening Star, Issue 21099, 11 May 1932, Page 6

TAXIMEN’S PLIGHT

NEW REGULATIONS CRITICISED COSTLY LICENSES WILL DEPRIVE MANY OF LIVELIHOOD Much to their discomfort and expense, local taximen had their first intimation of what the Government’s new regulations will mean to them during the last race meeting at Forbury, when Chief Traffic Inspector M'Nichol advised, them that they would be liable to prosecution if they were to transport passengers to the trots. Subsequent inquiry by the members of at least one rank has disturbed their peace of mind, for as one man remarked to a * Star ’ reporter to-day, “It is so serious a matter that to conform with all the new stipulations will be too costly for many of us. Our means of livelihood will be wrested from us.” Explanation was then mads that the new Transport Licensing Act stated that taxis cannot operate on any route where a passenger service is provided without a special license, worth £3. And before this license is issued a certificate of fitness- to carry passengers has to be passed in regard to the car, : minute details of which have to be set out. This certificate costs £2. Both, licenses are additional to those already existing—the registration of the car with a special fee for a comprehensive insurance policy (£9 2s 6d), a license to ply for hire (£1);, a rank feq (£3), and a driving license, for which special conditions have to be fulfilled* such as a medjeal certificate of fitness (15s). The total amount in future, wilf be £lB 17s 6d. It was stated that the new Act came into force on March 1. By June 1 the cars had to be registered afresh under, the Motor Vehicles Act for 1932-33-Some of the taximen had already obtained their licenses to ply for hire re-issued by the corporation, which was satisfied that their cars were in fit and proper condition for fairing purposes, but these men wou'd now have to get their vehicles inspci.ed by a transport officer. “We were totally unaware of the new regulations until we were told not to drive passengers to Forbury Park last Thursday,” stated another taxi, driver. “Most of us were-under the impression that the Act would, not be strictly enforced, so we drove loads to the trots, but we have since been advised that our numbers have been taken. Usually we look upon race meetings as a God-send to make up the deficit in our lean periods. But if we are to be prohibited from driving fares wherever they desire to go our livelihood will be taken from us. Buses run on almost every road nowadays, so it will be absolutely necessary to procure the special new licenses, which cost an almost prohibitive amount. Temporary licenses costing 2s 6d may be obtained for a special occasion, but rates have been reduced almost to a minimum, and there would be nothing in a trip, say, to Mosgiel, if special licenses had to be obtained. “ The new number plates to be fitted ■on June 1 will bear a prefix letter ‘T ’ to denote taxis, and traffic inspectors will easily single out a hired car in town or country. No taxi will be able to go on the road without all these new licenses, for which it is hard to say how we will pay. The existing times makes it necessary to work between twelve and sixteen hours a day to earn enough to buy necessities without putting any aside for new taxes,”