TAXI CHARGES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 108, 7 April 1936, Page 4

TAXI CHARGES

CASE AT CHRISTCHURCH. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, April 6. “Is this war never going to cease? Is common sense never going to prevail among these people?” asked Mr E. C. Levvy, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day, when Robert Cyril Bradford, driver for Gold Band Taxis, was charged with charging the incorrect fare. The case was brought by an informant employed bv a rival taxi firm. By regulations dated August 12. 1935, the Christchurch City Council fixed the minimum taxi faros to stop uneconomic competition among taxi firms, which it .was. alleged caused men to be employed too long hours for little reward, the reason being that men driving taxi cars usually are on a rental basis and receiving no wages but a proportion of the takings. In this case it was admitted that if the taxi had been hired at the point where the passenger joined it the right fare to the destination would have been 2s 2d, the actual amount charged. Howev.er. the cab had been called from a distant point. The contention of -the prosecution was that the fare should have been charged front the hiring point, where the telephone message was received. For the defence it was contended that the proprietor of Gold Band Taxis (C. S. Trillo) did not order his driver to go and collect the passenger, but informed hint that if he went to a certain place a passenger would be there for hiyn. The Magistrate held that this was mere subterfuge and fined defendant £l.