TAXI COMMISSION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 260, 1 October 1936, Page 2

TAXI COMMISSION

EVIDENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH. STRONG REMARKS PASSED. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 30. There were some brisk exchanges between Hon. H. Hayward, M.L.C., manager of the Rink Taxi firm, and Mr C. S. Trillo, proprietor of the Gold Band Taxis, when Mr Hayward concluded his evidence before the Taxi Commission this morning. Cross-examination by Mr Trillo drew the contention from Mr Hayward that the Gold Band Taxis were such outlaws and by-law breakers that no meetin" to straighten things out would think of inviting the Gold Band representative. Christchurch had a population of 132,530 and the number of taxi licenses were 165, said Mr Hayward. It would be much better to reduce the number of licenses to one per 1000 of population. In the last four years his firm had only had eight accidents. “I have not paid a dividend for ten years,” said Mr Hayward in reply to a question from Mr Trillo. Mr Trillo then gave details of the Gold Band drivers’ earnings, saying that some had earned as high as £l4 a week. “Would you he surprised to hear that?” asked Mr Trillo. Mr Hayward : 1 could never be surprised by anything you could say or dc. ‘'Vou said you made a blunder What was it? Mr Trillo asked. Mr Hayward : I blundered in imagining that your unfair tactics would soon be stopped. Mr Trillo : The Court held that my methods were legal. “With your convictions both here and in Invercargill it might be as well not to talk about the courts,” replied Mr Hayward. Mr Trillo: Why was I not asked to the taxi proprietors’ meetings? “The Gold Band taxis,” said Mr Hayward to the chairman, “are such outlaws, such by-law breakers, that no meeting of people making a genuine effort to straighten things out would think of asking the Gold Band representative. The Gold Band cabs are outlaws.” Mr Trillo in evidence said he had introduced the hiring or commission system. As the result of a Supreme Court action he was allowed to continue, and this meant the winding up of the Taxi Drivers’ Union. Mr E. Parlane, secretary of the union, had been up against him ever since and had been active in getting firms and others to boycott him. Mr Parlane had used his influence as a City Councillor to turn the council against him. The City Council had even circularised local firms asking them to cancel contracts with the Gold Band. “In 1929.” added Mr Trillo, “a deputation of my drivers asked my assurance that they would not be put on wages. To this I agreed, and I have kept my word.”

Continuing his allegations against the City Council of unfairness, Trillo said that several of the city by-laws had been framed solely aga.inst him. “It is well-known in the taxi business,” he said, “that I am being robbed of hundreds of pounds a year, and that is why I openly challenge Mr Parlane or the drivers themselves to prove their actual earnings.” Trillo said that, when he started business in Christchurch, the taxidrivers were charging 3s Gel for the first mile for five passengers. The charge was then 17s 6d for five passengers for five miles. He started with k>w fares in July, 1929, and in the five and a half months to the end of the year made a net profit of £1531. In answer to a question, Trillo said he could not pay £4 or £4 10s a week to drivers at the present fares. He agreed that Christchurch was the worst place in New Zealand for taxis. Mr Parlane: Do you recall 37 of your drivers being prosecuted for paying no wages tax and saying that they would be better on relief, as their wages were less than 30s a week? Trillo: I will not admit that those wages wore right, because tampering with speedometers had been going on for some time. The chairman asked Mr Parlane if the employees’ organisation was taking any steps'to try to get an award. Mr Parlane replied: No steps are being taken at present, as it is very desirable that legislation should be passed making the share system illegal. George Francis Scott, a driver for Rink Taxis, said that low wages, low faros and non-payment for overtime were the reasons for the existing troubles. He was sure the Gold Band drivers did not earn their salt. Any proprietor who provided cars at 6d a mile could do so only at the expense of tho drivers. There was too much uncertainty about commission work, and the drivers stayed on their stands too long, hoping to make more money. He had seen drivers sleep in their cars at the railway station to keep their places on tho rank when the boat train came in.

Archie Harold Finch, an ownerdriver of the Blue Star organisation, declared that the cause of all the trouble in the taxi business was the share system. When the Gold Band drivers were making the large sums referred to, they had only a few cars on the road and the public would use no others. They drove out every- firm paying wages, except Hink Taxis. II hen the fleet was built up to about 60, the drivers’ takings were greatly reduced and some drivers had had to apply to the coal and blanket fund for assistance. He contended that there were too many taxis in Christchurch, and suggested that the tra.nsfer of business should be prohibited until the number was brought down to 120. Three Gold Band drivers were called «* the request of the chairman. One, an office driver, said his commission never amounted to very much. Last week he received 30s to 355. and the week before £2 to £2 ss. His average daily hours were 10 to 11. and he often worked seven days a week. Another driver said he worked every night for a.n average return of between £2 and £3. Another driver said his average earnings were about 3os w-eeldy. His average hours were 13 or 14 a day, working six days a week.