TAXI FLEET INCREASE

Evening Star, Issue 22689, 1 July 1937, Page 15

TAXI FLEET INCREASE

AMOUNTS TO GUT IN DRIVERS' WAGES AUCKLAND COMPANIES' PROTEST [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, June 30. Taxi interests in Auckland decided, at a joint meeting of Atta and Checker Taxi Companies, to protest against the decision of the Auckland City Council to grant licenses to increase the city’s fleet to 300 cars. At present there are 286 cars on the road, and it is proposed to grant 14 additional licenses. The existing by-law fixes the number of licenses at 266, A statement issued after the meeting points out that taxi interests arc alarmed at the council’s departure from the repognised principle of sound taxi administration in extending licenses beyond the accepted economic number. The result of such an action is expected to increase the difficulties existing under the present fare schedule. Moreover, the decision is held to bo strictly opposed to the declared policy of the council to improve workers’ conditions. They claim that, the proposal is unjustifiable, and has been taken without consideration being given to the true position of the taxi industry. They further protest that the council acted without full consultation with the parties concerned, who assert that they could have enlightened the council on the fallacy of its proposal to solve the taxi problems, believed by the council to exist, by the addition of licenses. “An increase in the number of cabs,” the statement explains, “will mean that for 23 hours of the day the drivers of new taxi cabs will he seriously interfering with the work of the present men. At present, except at peak periods, there is a shortage of work, and extra cabs will involve longer working hours for all concerned. The result, therefore, will be equivalent to a cut in taxi drivers’ wages, and the council, without the knowledge or means of correctly assessing the effect of its action, is clearly adopting an illconsidered and un-Labourlike attitude. -