AUCKLAND TAXI CABS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 156, 3 June 1937, Page 11

AUCKLAND TAXI CABS.

OBJECTION TO RAILWAYS CHARGE. . BOYCOTT OE STATION. Tor Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 1. Taxi cab drivers of the two principal companies operating in Auckland have reached a decision which will mean a boycott of the arrival platform at the Auckland railway station unless the department consents to a reduction in the charge of £1 a year at present made for the privilege of waiting at the platform to pick up fares. Ihe decision was made at a mass meeting of drivers belonging to the two companies as well as independent drivers, but it was explained that the companies themselves were not concerned in the difference that, has arisen. The charge of £1 a year for what is known as a railway license is considered excessive by the majority of drivers, particularly in comparison with the sum of Is a year charged by the Auckland Hr-bour Board for taxis plying for hire on the wharves. Drivers interviewed explained that the railway licensse had expired as from Monday of this week, and said that none of the drivers had renewed their licenses as they were waiting foi a favourable reply from the department. If the request for a lower charge was refused they would simply not renew their licenses and thus would discontinue waiting at the arrival platform. _ . The operators of private taxi-cabs stated that no matter wliat reply was received thev would continue to pay the fees, as" their livelihood depended in a large measure on the amount of work they obtained at the station.