TAXI-METERS IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19031, 30 May 1925, Page 10 (Supplement)

TAXI-METERS IN AUCKLAND.

SIX CARS TO BE FITTED. l u PROPOSED RULES FOR CONTROL. In view of tlie forthcoming introduction of the tnxi-met?er t<» Auckland, a set of / 6y-laws lias been drafted relating to their operation, and the control of taxi-cabs carrying these devices; Six taxi-cabs fitted with inet/ers are expected to operate in Auckland iit about three weeks time. / The fallowing clauses are taken from the proposed set of by-laws now mulct review by the Finance and Legal Cominitte of the City Council: — No person shall own or drive a taxicab for hire on which a taxi-meter is allixed unless tlie taxi-meter has the seal intact an.l affixed to such vehicle in the manner provided by this by-law, such • meter to be approved, tested and sealed by the traffic inspector. The owner ,ov driver of a taxi-cab equipped witlu shall (a) Keep ■'the taxi-meterjaffixed*.thereto in perfect order and condition, and have such taximeter readjusted and tested as often as necessary, and at least, once in e\ei_\ twelve months; (a) immediately notify the traffic inspector whenever it shall conio to his. knowledge that the taxi/meter is not registering correctly, or has in a,ny way become out ol order, or that the seal is brdken. The owner or driver shall not cause or permit (a) any taxi-meter to be affixed 10 such vehicle /Other than the taxi-meter that was tested on such vehicle; (b) any wheels to be affixed to such vehicle, other than those which were affixed when the taxi-meter was tested; provided that if anv owner desires to substitute any •wheels for the. wheels which were tested with the taxi-meter, lie shall submit his vehicle to the traffic inspector with the new wheds attached, and have the taximeter re-tested. The driver shall (a) as soon as he is hired, and no sooner, set the taxi-meter in motion; (b) during any hiring keep the taxi-meter in motion, and shall not j,top it or cause or permit the same to be . Stopped until such hiring terminates; (c) immediately upon the termination of any 'hiring stop the taxi meter. Prior to testing any taxi-meter, payment shall be made nt the rate of 10s for each examination and test. No person shall interfere with or cause or permit any interference with the taximeter, or with any portion of the mechanism, so as to prevent its proper working. No taxi-meter shall be operated from any wheel to which the power is supplied. ' The taxi-meter to be fitted on the near side of the cab with the face towards the interior of the cab; the face to be illuminated after sunset, immediately a hiring has been made.' Every taxi-motor shal have a metal flag, bearing the words " For Hire " in plain block- letters, at least 2in. high, so that same may /be easily read at a reasonable distance." The flag must lock in a vertical position when the taxi-cab is disengaged. .Every cab shall be fitted with a light in the interior of the cab, approved by the traffic inspector. The traffic inspector shall deliver to each licensed , driver of a cab a metal Ebadge, with his license number thereon, which must, under penalty of cancellation of the license, be constantly and conspicuously displayed on the outside of the driver's coat when he is engaged in his : employment. This badge shall be delivered to the council in the event of the driver's license being suspended or cancelled. j A card or , plate showing the scale of fares and the working of the taxi-meter, shall be placed in a conspicuous part of the cab for the information of passengers. Cabs shall tnot be allowed to ply for hire as omnibuses, i.e., charge separate fees. ' No passenger ,to be allowed beside the driver; space shall be reserved for luggage. Every licensed cab shall carry a comprehensive insurance policy, acceptable to the Town Clerk. / The number of cabs allowed on each stand shall bo from time to time fixed by resolution of council, and the number of cabs allotted to each stand be indicated 011 a sign-board at the head of each stand. No driver of a licensed taxi-cab, fitted with a taxi-meter, shall refuse a hiring ■when on a public stand or on a public street with his " For Hire" flag up. No driver' shall, while his cab is on a ■ public stand awaiting hire, display the For Hire" signal of the taxi meter in such a position as to indicate that the cab is not available for employment. No licensed passenger vehicle, to remain outside any theatre, hall, hotel, public resort, railway or ferry, or other place of public gathering (except in the case where public stands / are appointed) for longer than is necessary for the purpose of taking up or setting down passengers. The driver of a licensed cab, on being discharged at/ any placo and instructed to call back at a later hour, shall not be entitled to claim any fare for the time between the time of such discharge and the time appointed for him to call back, provided that the driver■ may claim his fare to the time of discharge, and shall not be bound to, accept the hiring to return. No vehicle shall be licensed until it has been thoroughly/ and carefully inspected and examined by the traffic inspector or his deputy, and found to be in thoroughly safe condition for Hie, transportation of ) passengers, clean, of good appearance, and well painted and varnished. The City Council may cancel or suspend the license of any vehicle found to be unfit or uiisuitcd for public patronage. NELSON-BLENHEIM ROAD. yCOCNTY's' DIFFICULT POSITION. The state of the Nelson end of the Nel-son-Blenheim Road has been so severely criticised bv a number of Christehurcii motorists, who recently traversed it, that the following comments by the engineer <o the. Waimea County Council, Mr. J. 'l. M. Brewster, should prove interesting:— Ihe total distance of this road, that is under tloi jurisdiction of the Waimea County Council, is 28 miles, 18 miles of which is a declared (lovernment road, on which the council receives a subsidy from the Main Highways Board of £3 for .CI. Unfortunately, the 10 miles of road 1 passes through jfery poor country, and from lands in this portion of the county rates aniinounting to only £l5O per annum are collected. The part of tiie. county I through which this road passes has ver'v little community" of interest with other poitions of the Waimea County, ;is the road leads to Nelson, through which town travellers must pass before reaching the other part of the county. Notwithstanding the council only being able to col|ect £l5O in rates from this area, during the past 'few years it lias spent on the road between £SOO and J'.bCQ per annum. This year it lias allocated £3OO to the portion of road. " Although it must be admitted that I,ho road is iiy a bad way, you will readily bee that other portions of the county, although not immediately interested, have /lo contribute more than a fair share toward the expenditure on the road. " Referring to the other 10 miles of this road, at present it is easily a 25-bules-an-hour road, with a fairly comfortable ride." '/. .