TAXI BUSINESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22538, 1 October 1936, Page 14

TAXI BUSINESS

EARNINGS OF DRIVERS .. ... % ' • •' £ PROPRIETOR'S ALLEGATIONS WINDING-UP OF THE UNION ATTITUDE OF CITY COUNCIL | [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION J CH RISTCHURCJI, Wednesday Further evidence was heard to-day by the commission which is inquiring into the taxi and carrying businesses in the Dominions Mr. Charles S. Trillo, proprietor of ' the Gold Band taxis, continuing his Evidence, gave details of Gold Band drivers' earnings, saying that some had earned as high as £l4 a week. He said he introduced the hiring or oommig- , sion system. As the result of a Supreme Court action he was allowed to continue, and this meant the winding-up of the Taxi Drivers' Union. Mr. E. Parlane, secretary of the union, had since betrn active in getting firms and others to boycott him. Mr. Parlane had used his influence as a member of the City Council to turn tly», council him. The City Cougiifil had even sent circulars to local #fms anking them to ! cancel contracts with the Gold Band. "In 1929," added Mr. Trillo, deputation of my drivers asked my assurance that they would not be. put on wages. To this I agreed, and I have kept my word." Challenge to Driven Mr. Trillo said that several of the city by-laws had been framed ijolelj against him. "It is well taxi business," he said, "tha^jj| 'being robbed of hundred? of * * year, and that is why I openly challenge Mi'. Parlane, or even the drivers themselves, to prove their actual earnings."

Mr. Trillo said that when he started business in Christchurch drirers were charging 3s 6d for the first mile for five passengers, and the charge was then 17s 6d for five passengers ferine miles. He started with low fares in July, 1929, and in five and a-Lalf months to the end of the year he made a net profit of £1531. In answer to a question, Mr. Trillo said he could not pay £4 or £4 10s a week to drivers at the present fareii. He agreed that Christchurch was the worst place in New Zealand for taxiu. Tampering With Speedometers

Mr. Parlane: Do you recall 37 of your drivers being prosecuted for paying no wages tax, and saying that they would be better on relief, as thoir wages were less than 30s a week? > Mr. Trillo: I will not admit that thoise wages were right, because tampering with - the speedometers had been going on for some time.

The chairman, Mr. P. M. Butler,■ asked Mr. Parlane if the employees' organisation was taking any steps to try to get an award. Mr Parlane replied that no steps were being taken at present, as it was very desirable that legislation should be passed making the share system iii^al. George Francis Scott, a driver for Rink Taxis, said the low wages, low fares and non-payment for ofltfrtima were the reasons for the existing troubles. He was sure the Gold 'Band drivers did not earn their salt. Any proprietor who' provided cars at 6d a mile could do so only at the expense of the drivers; There was too much uncertainty about commission work, and drivers stayed on the stands too long hoping to make more money. Ha had seen drivers sleep in cars at the'railiray station to keep their places on the rank when the boai:. train came in. Share System E lamed Archie Haro Id Finch, an owner-driver, of the Blue Star organisation, declared that the cause of all the trouble in the taxi business was the share system. When the Gold Band drivers were making the large sums referred to they had only a few cars on the road aiul the public would us© no others. They drove out everv firm paying wages except Bink Taxis. When the fleet was buili up to about 50 drivers the takings; w;re greatly reduced, and somie drivers had had to apply to the Coal and Blanket Fund for. assistance. Witness contended that there were too niany taxis in Christchurch, and suggested that the transfer of business should be prohibited until the number coukll be brought down to 120. Three Gold Band drivers were called at the request of the chairman. One said his commission never amounted to very much j'Thast week he had received 30s to 355, and the week before £2 to £2 ss. His average daily hours were 10, or 11 and he often worked seveai days a week Anoth«r driver said he worked ever;!' night for' an average return of between £2 and £3. The third driver said his average learnings were about 35s a and his jnverage hours were 13 or 14 a | day, six days a week.