LICENSES FOR TAXIS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 December 1938, Page 11

LICENSES FOR TAXIS

COVERNMENT CONTROL.

[FEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.]

HAMILTON. December 13

An important case, which in effect was a test case for New Zealand, camo, before the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority (Mr E. J. Phelan) at Hamilton to-day, when Hamilton taxi proprietors, the first in the Dominion to be brought under the Transport Licensing Act, made application for licences. Taxis in Hamilton came under the Transport Department’s control after recent petitions to the Minister for Transport (Hon. R. Semple) made by the Hamilton Borough Council. Mr Phelan stated that that procedure would be followed in every other town in the country. Applications for the renewal of 19 taxi licences were made by the Checker Cab Company, and IS applications were made by owner-drivers of the Atta Company. Mr Phelan said that the Minister had declared that all taxis would come under the scope of the Transport Licensing Act. ami all business transactions of taxi companies 'would be controlled by the Licensing Authori I y-

After the hearing of lengthy evidence respecting hours, conditions, and wages, the existing licences were renewed. Decision on fares and the wages of drivers was reserved. ”l a.m hoping lor the day when the taxis in Auckland will all be run by one company, and the day may come when in every town in the Dominion taxis will be run as they should be run, by one company in each town,” Mr Phelan said.