TAXI INQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1936, Page 6

TAXI INQUIRY

RENTAL CARS IN AUCKLAND

Per Press Association Copyright.

AUCKLAND, November 10,

Consideration of the system of renting cars to persons who wished to drive themselves, formed the main part of the business to-day of the Committee of Enquiry appointed by ! the Government to investigate conditions in the taxi-cab and towncarrying business. Mr Wallace said that Mr A. V. A. Shorter had been associated the. rental car system for 10 years. Atpresent the companys’ fleet consisted of about oO cars, arid if would probably. be increased to 60 in. the next 10 years. An entirely 1 * new fleet of cars purchased every year. Practically every car in the fleet was equipped with a “governor” to keep speeds reasonable. The production of a driver’s license was required on application for a ear. Most of the week-day clients .were business houses' and tourists. The system was used by practically every large business house in Auckland. The Saturday and Sunday hires were mostly by working people. It was not the practice of the company to hire drivers. The rental car system, it was claimed, did not compete with the taxi business. It catered for men who required cars for a comparatively long time, even . athough they might want the cars for only short mileage. The advantage of the rental car system was that it eliminated waiting time for hirers of

cars. As to accidents, Mr Wallace said that in the last ten years, the com-, party’s, cars had travelled approximately 5,000,000 miles. In the last year alone they had done more, than 600.000. The company did not carry accident insurance for its cars, and yet it had always carried on at a profit. No statement had been kept of accidents, because their incidence had not been considered serious enough. “In your statement, Mr Wallace, you say that the public is entitled to the eneapest form of transport provided that it is not uneconomic,” said: the chairman \Mr. P. Butler). “That epitomises the whole thing. We ’ that should be the slogan of the whole industry.”

In future postmasters who issue,, temporary goods service licenses- -iir provincial towns will give information relating to the issue of licenses to interested parties, said Mb P. M. Butler, chairman of the committee of inquiry into the town-carrying business in a. statement to-night. This development has arisen as a result of representations made by Palmerston North carriers that such information would be useful to those in the earning trade.