TAXI RESTRICTIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 21100, 12 May 1932, Page 12

TAXI RESTRICTIONS.

TO TH» BDITOJt. Sir, —Surely the taxi-drivers of Dunedin and of New Zealand have just cause for complaint, and the public of Dunedin have to thank you for the light you have thrown on the Transport Bill. This Bill will indeed throw many out of employment and leave them in very poor straits. Some of these men have been working twelve to eighteen hours daily to make a few paltry shillings Facts are facts, and'they have unfortunately been the victims of very unfair treatment. On the first of the month, when the motor licenses were paid, they were not made conversant with the new conditions, and were absolutely ignorant of them until the corporation inspector stopped them catering for the races. Preference in Dunedin, according to the new regulations, has to be given to buses (for no taxi cars ply for hire on any line in or around Dunedin), and anyone riding in some of our buses will agree with me as to their fitness ■to carry passengers, not to say anything of the extras one gets in inhaling the poisonous fumes of exhaust gases. Where are the traffic inspectors. 6 Corporation buses are licensed to carry only twenty-four passengers. ’ What would be the position were an accident to happen, for do they not usually cany twice that number p Are the forty or more passengers covered by insurance? Again, the Government slogans are. “ Keep your own men in employment,” and yet it is putting more men on the dole daily. “ Patronise your railways,” and yet it plays into the hands of the corporation, which runs buses (and some very old ones at that! in opposition to the railways. Again, how are- these men going to live? Their cars are no good for them, they cannot sell them, as there is no sale for cars. They ennot go on the dole, because they own a car. and a good number of them cannot afford .to pay these outrageous license fees to sit idly in their cars.—l am, etc., AIUDDLEDOSr. May 11.