HIGHER TAXI FARES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21782, 23 April 1934, Page 11

HIGHER TAXI FARES

DESIRE OF DRIVERS LOSS ON LONG TRIPS ANOTHER VIEWPOINT STATED Exception is taken by a number of owner-drivers engaged in the taxi-cab business in Auckland to the statement recently made that the men were satisfied with the present scale of fares, and the claim is made that the majority of the men would favour an increase in fares, particularly for the four arid five miles trips, which are regarded as uneconomical. It is stated that many of the men are making only a bare living and will probably continue on the road only as long as their present cars last, as they are not able to make provision, for the purchase of now vehicles.

Claiming to speak on behalf of 200 owner-drivers, Mr. C. M. Strand stated yesterday that they were astonished to read that 'the men were satisfied with the present fares. He said that when the matter was put to the vote, over 200 out of the 269 owner-drivers voted for an increase, particularly on the four and live-miles runs. These, he said, included a number of the ownerdrivers in the company which was announced as favouring the retention of the present fares. "As far as wages or profit above running expenses are concerned," said Mr. Strand, "it can be proved beyond doubt, by owner-drivers who are making a study of their expenses and running their business on proper lines, that, deducting dead mileage by telephone calls, there is not more than 3d a mile left for wages. The average mileage a day of 15 hours is 80. This means that the wage is 5s a day for five days, and allowing double that amount for Saturday and Sunday, a total of £2 5s a week of over 100 hours.

"There axe at present about six different rates of fares in operation in Auckland, including the council meter rates, company rates with four adjustments for distances and number of passengers, special charges for meeting overseas vessels and another for trains. This is most unsatisfactory to the travelling 'public and there are over 200 responsible taxi-owners in Auckland who are most anxious to remedy this state of affairs. It should be possible to fix a compulsory minimum and maximum fare for all owner-drivers and show on the meters the exact amount the passenger has to pay, thus strictly enforcing the scale. With the co-opera-tion of the members of the City Council, we should be able to come to a satisfactory solution of this most important matter without calling on any outside body for interference or advice."