TAXI INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23602, 11 March 1940, Page 10

TAXI INDUSTRY

OUTCOME OF MEETING COMPLAINTS BY LICENSEES VOTING STRENGTH QUESTION Dissatisfaction with the outcome of the meeting of Auckland taxi licensees called 011 Thursday night on the instructions of the Metropolitan Licensing Authority to consider the reorganisation of the industry is expressed by two correspondents to the Hkhai-D. The Checker company, with approximately 00 cabs, had always resisted the overtures of the Atta company, with about 100 cabs, for amalgamation, Mr. 0. R. Robertson writes, and it had a set of irrefutable arguments that neither the members of its fleet nor the public of Auckland would benefit from such a scheme, ft was perfectly obvious that, at a meeting where the policies of the companies were as asunder as the poles, any proposal put forward by the larger would be carried through its greater voting strength. That was the position on Thursday night. . The committee ultimately elected consisted of three Checker men, three Atta and one private taxi owner. Mi. Robertson continues, ihe Checkei men elected were in each case proposed and seconded by Atta men, the Checker drivers taking no part in the election. The Checker drivers elected had no authority to make any proposa s or arrangements on behalf ol the C heck fleet. The Checker licensees would not permit such an infringement of their libertv as would take away their right to manage their own company in thou ° U \lr A. 15. Darker, who read part of a statement at the meeting setting out the Checker standpoint, writes that the chairman. Mr. Howey Walkei, did not allow those who opposed the motion a reasonable opportunity ol < xplaining their idea. The authority convened the meeting "for the purpose of affording licensees an opportunity to confer in regard to organising the taxi cab business in a more efficient manner." He went to the trouble of preparing a statement, but the chairman refused to let him finish presenting his case.