TAXICAB CHARGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20897, 12 June 1931, Page 13

TAXICAB CHARGES.

MINIMUM FARE PROPOSAL. NO ACTION BY CITY COUNCIL. A legal opinion was presented to the City Council last evening by the city solicitor upon proposals by the Auckland Transport and 'J ouring Association, foi a minimum fare for taxi-cabs, special faies on certain days and a limitation 011 the number of licences issued. The opinion slated that the council apparently was not entitled to fix a minimum fare, which would be an interference with the rights of the individual taxidriver in the operation of his business. Regarding the second point, the city solicitor understood that the association wanted a right for taxi-cabs to ply for hire as omnibuses at separate fares on special occasions. It would be possible, he stated, to frame a by-law to this effect, but he foresaw considerable difficulty, as the council might be called upon to grant such licences to all taxi-cabs, and this would leave none available for hiring in the ordinary way. Moreover, the by-law governing the construction of omnibuses would have to be set aside. On the third point, he considered that the council had no power to restrict the number of licences unless such restriction was deemed necessary for the control of traffic or the maintenance of order. The Legal and By-laws Committeo recommended that no action bo taken regarding the first and third questions, but that in regard to the second, the position be considered when the by-laws wore being revised. This course was agreed to.