CUT IN PETROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23616, 28 March 1940, Page 10

CUT IN PETROL

TAXI-CAB RATION REDUCED 25 PER CENT DECISION IN AUCKLAND OPERATION ON MONDAY Taxi-cab owners are to face a reduction of at least 25 per cent in their monthly ration of petrol, according to statements made by them yesterday. Tho new scale under which lower assessments will come into effect will bo onforced from Monday next. The Metropolitan Licensing Authority is responsible for the reduction, which will bo put into effect through the oil fuel control office. For single-shift taxis the new allowance will be on the basis of 10S gallons a month, whereas the average allowance hitherto, taxi owners state, has been about 140 gallons. For a doubleshift taxi the new basis is only 135 gallons a month. Although it was known that a now maximum scale for taxis had recently been prepared by the Licensing Authority, owners did not expect that in practice the cut would be as drastic as 25 per cent and more. It is felt that one reason behind the change is that the authority believes many private car owners, in order to economise within the limits of their ration, have been using taxis a goorl deal, a tendency serving to defeat the object of the control scheme. It is denied'by taxi owners that their running has increased on that account. "\W have been told in the past that there are too many taxis and that our earnings accordingly are below a good living standard." said a taxi owner. "Now our earnings are to be slashed. How can that be justified?"