AUCKLAND TAXI RATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20960, 25 August 1931, Page 10

AUCKLAND TAXI RATES.

VARYING CHARGES MADE. COMPETITION WITH TRAMS. Stalemate seems to have been reached in Auckland's taxi fare "war." The challenge issued by Black and White Cabs, Limited, on Saturday in announcing a rato of Is for the first mile and Is 6d for up to five miles, is understood to have forestalled a move by another company to reduco the five-mile charge of 3s to 2s 6d. The latter adjustment has now been marie, but a third company has, so far, determined not to vary its charges of one shilling for the first mile, two shillings for two miles, half-a-crown for three, and three shillings for four and five miles.

Meanwhile, fears are beginning to be expressed by the Auckland Transport Board that, if the taxi "war" is of Jong duration, the tramway revenue will suffer. A party of five, sharing the expenses of a taxi ride costing Is 6d, would save money on travel to points beyond the third tramway sections.

An indication that those conducting taxicab services were perturbed even before the latest rate reductions were announced is given by the report that on several occasions in recent months unofficial overtures have been made to the Auckland Transport Board with a view to taxis being brought under the board's control, tho object, it is understood, being to have a limit placed on tho number of licences and a scale of minimum fares imposed. However, tho Transport Board is concerned only with vehicles with seating accommodation for over seven persons and operating on the system of separato fares for each passenger. "If it is desired to bring taxicabs under the control of the Transport Board, that could be done by a simple alteration in the Act under which we are operating," said Mr. J. A. 0. Allum, chairman of the board, when the matter was referred to him yesterday.