TAXICAB CHARGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16377, 3 November 1916, Page 9

TAXICAB CHARGES.

NEW BY-LAW PASSED.

TIME CHARGE UNALTERED.

A special meeting of the City Council was held last night, prior to the ordinary meeting, to confirm the by-law regulating taxicab fares, the draft of which was discussed and approved at the meeting held a fortnight ago.

Consideration was given to a letter from the Taxi-owners' Association, in which it was pointed out in connection with the time clause in the new by-law that the previous charge of 12s 6d per hour included the time taken in returning to the stand. It was asked that there should be lett, no room for misconstruction in the new by-law. The latter as drafted read as follows :—

Ihe rates, or tare*, to be paid for calis which are driven or propelled bv motor traction, whether bv oil, steam, or electric power, shall be as follows: Bv Distance -Minimum fare, for one. mile foV one or two passengers, 2s 6d; for every additional passenger beyond two, Is: for every additional mile or fraction thereof for one to tour passengers, 1, 3d: for every additional passenger above four per mile. 3d. The charge by distance shall not include for the return of the car to the stand.

*' By Time—For up to four passengers at per hour, 15s; for each additional rassenger per hour. 2s 6d; detention, for every five minutes or fraction thereof, 6d ; from midnight to six o'clock a.m. 50 per cent, increase, on the foregoing amounts. '•The person hiring shall' have the option of hiring either by time or distance, but if ho does not elect at the time of hiring to exercise such option of hiring by time, then the hiring shall be considered and charged for as a hiring bv distance." The .Mayor, Mr. J. 11. Gunson, oxplained that at the last meeting he had stated that the wcrding of the by-law was in accordance with the wishes of" the taxiowners. He had since ascertained that such was not the case. He now moved, ! therefore, that after the words "{er j hour" in the time clause there be in-j serted the words "including return to the stand." If adopted this would make the clause th> same as in the present by-law with the exception that the fare would be raised from 12s 6d to 15s per hour. IT it were left in the state as sent down by the committee it would mean a serious reduction in the fare. ; The Mayor's amendment was carried. ! A further amendment was then moved by Mr. E. J. Carr, " that the charge be ! reduced from 15s to 12s 6d per hour." j This was carried, thus keeping the charge | by time a.» at present. The by-law, as amended, was adopted