TAXI INQUIRY

Grey River Argus, 17 October 1936, Page 12

TAXI INQUIRY

TIMARU PROPRIETORS’ VIEWS. (Per Press Association), TIMARU, October 15. The Taxi and Town Carrying Enquiry Committee sat in Timaru when the cases for Timaru taxi proprietors and town carriers were presented. In outlining the ease for the taxi proprietors, Mr J. F. O ’Connor raised the following points for the consideration of the Commission:—The Commission to be asked to enquire into the possibility of having the compulsory third party insurance premiums for taxis substantially reduced; the Commission to be asked to enquire into the possibility of reducing the comprehensive premium for taxis; that in the event of no national control being enforced, a district control be instituted—in this case the district boundaries to extend from the Rangitata to the Waitaki Rivers and to embrace all taxis in that area; that strong exception be taken to the amount of “pirating’-' that was being done by private cars, to the detriment of the legitimate taxi business, and that more stringent measures be taken; that taxis be granted permission to charge individual fares to the local races, the show, sports meetings, and similar functions; that member- of the association object to any alteration in the weight of passengers' luggage carried; that private hire registration be granted only to persons or firms engaged in legitimate taxi business; that in the event of a flat rate of fares being instituted for taxis, the rate of charging for rental cars be in proportion; and in the event of no flat rate being fixed, rental cars be brought into line with local regulations. Air F. J. Cook, secretary of the Timaru. Carriers' Association, submitted for consideration the following suggestions for the improvement of carriers’ conditions:—All carriers of goods for profit or gain should be licensed; no more licenses to be granted until the industry is on a sounder economic, basis; that all operators should Im compelled to join the Master Carriers’ Association; that all licensees should be compelled to charge the prices agreed upon by the Association and that carriers proved to be charging less should submit to having their licenses cancelled by the licensing authority; that all carriers, whether owner-drivers or employees, should work the same number of hours a week, and under the same conditions. lean- . 11 -.“.j1-.-s j«b—