WRONG FARE CHARGED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22388, 7 April 1936, Page 10

WRONG FARE CHARGED

TAXI-DRIVER FIMED CHRISTCHURCH RIVALRIES [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday "Is this war never going to cease? Is common sense never going to prevail among these people?" asked Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day, when Robert Cyril Bradford, a driver for the Gold Band taxis, was charged with charging an incorrect fare. The case was brought by an informer employed by a rival taxi firm. In August, 1935, the Christchurch City Council fixed minimum taxi fares. In this case it was admitted that if the taxi had been hired at the point where the passenger joined it, the correct fare to his destination would have been 2s 2d, the actual amount charged. However, the cab had been called from a distant point. The contention of the prosecution was that the fare should have been charged from the hiring point where a telephone message was received. For the defence it was contended that the proprietor of the Gold Band taxis did not order his driver to go and jollect a passenger, but informed him that if he went to a certain place a passenger would be there for him. The magistrate held that the defence was a mere subterfuge and fined defendant £l.