TAXI INQUIRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22574, 12 November 1936, Page 15

TAXI INQUIRY

RETURN OF EARNINGS WARNING,BY CHAIRMAN CHANCE TO RECTIFY MISTAKES An under-statement of earnings appears to have been made in some of the questionnaires sent to taxi-drivers bv the committee of inquiry appointed to investigate conditions in the taxi-cab and town-carrying businesses, according to the chairman, Mr. l\ M. Butler. He said a serious view was to be taken if the position was not rectified. Mr liutler said the reason for the under-statement of earnings was hard to understand, although it may have been that the persons who had made mistakes thought the details of the questionnaires would be given to other Government departments. This was not the case. All information supplied on the questionnaire was to be treated in the strictest confidence, and none would be forwarded to any other department. "Now that this matter has been made clear," said Mr. Butler, "a serious view will be taken of men who have made false declarations in forwarding the questionnaire, and a further opportunity will be given those who have made mistakes in under-estimating their earnings to rectify this before any more questionnaires are examined. Men requiring a further questionnaire should make application to the Transport Department, Government Buildings." The taxi inquiry committee completed its public sitting in Auckland on Tuesday, but members remained in the city yesterday to finish their examination of information that had been supplied in private. They left last night tor Napier, where a sitting is to be held tomorrow. After that has been finished the committee will return to Wellington, where a final meeting will be held to consider matters not so far dealt with, before the members begin to correlate their material for the recommendations they have to make to the Government.