DECENT CITIZENS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 283, 13 November 1936, Page 4

DECENT CITIZENS

Defence of Men in Taxi Business SPEEDING IN NAPIER? That the majority of taxi drivers were excellent citizens, and did not deserve to be singled out for adverse comment, was the opinion expressed this morning by the chairman of the committee of inquiry into taxi matters, Air. P. Al. Butler, when expressing the view that a statement published to the effect that some taxi drivers had been obliged to cook meals in their cars had been nothing more than a vindictive one. A taxi manager, Air. S. Cross, told the committee in evidence that there had been no opportunity in Napier for drivers to sleep in their cars, or to cook in them. “We have heard it said that we even wear our pyjamas in our taxis,” he added. “1 presume you are referring to Press reports?” said Air. Butler. “Well, we have had no proof that taxi drivers have been cooking in their cars. I think, that that was merely a vindictive statement. As a matter of fact, we think that the majority of taxi drivers are decent citizens, trying to eke put an honest existence. Why they should be singled out for adverse comment is more than I can say.” Air. Cross: We are proud of our taxis in Napier, Sir. They are a good crowd of drivers and we are out to give Napier the best service possible. Earlier in the inquiry, Senior-Ser-geant W. Pender, who was invited to reply to a questionnaire, said that no tendency to speed on the part of taxi drivers was noticeable in Napier. Mr. Butler; Were you on duty last night? Senior-Sergeant Pender: Yes, for a time. Well, I saw a lot of speeding, didn’t you?—“They might not have been taxis, Sir.” Well, they had the “T” on their number plates. •Continuing, the senior-sergeant said that there had been eight accidents involving taxis to come before the notice of the police within the past two years. None of those accidents, however, had as a result of speeding on the part of taxis, and in no instance was a taxi driver to blame. “I may say the taxi drivers of this town are very efficient indeed,” he concluded. Air. Butler.- Good. I hope their employers realise this.