THE TAXI-OWNERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10545, 23 March 1920, Page 4

THE TAXI-OWNERS

CHARGES TO PUBLIC WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND FARES. The attention of a “New Zealand Times" reporter was yesterday directed to 'the fact that the Auckland City Council is now dealing with* a request from the Taxi-Owners’’ Association for authority' to increase the fares so as to bring them in line with the scale operating in Wellington. The association has' supported its request for LI an hour by arguments based upon the increased prices for accessories, repairs, and benzine, and submitted that with a motor running at an average of twenty miles an hour the present charge of 15s for this time worked out at ninopence a mile, whSreas London taxis charged Is a mile.’ The suggested charge of a 5s minimum for appointments booked was made because of the waste in time waiting for the hour.of the job. Some opposition,has been raised to the charges. A WELLINGTON OPINION. A Wellington taxi-owner to whom the above charges were referred said, in his opinion, Auckland taxi-owners should get as much as those in Wellington. “There isn’t much difference in tile cost of living, though (ruefully) "Wellington is the dearest-place in New Zealand. But I think that the Aucklanders are well entitled to the same consideration wo have received. “What are onr charges? Well, they are really what the Auckland owners are striving for. The Wellington people apparently recognise that our charges., are reasonable, and there is no trouble. We charge £1 per hour for, Tour passengers, with an extra 2s per hour for every passenger over four. For each additional quarter hour 5s is charged; and for one passenger, first - mile. Is; for one passenger,. each subsequent half-mile, 6d; return of car to point of departure with or without passengers, Is; charge for detention or waiting time, for every five minutes after first three minutes from time of stopping, 9d. The speed is to be not more than fifteen miles per hour. Now, there is nothing unreasonable in these other charges, and the public evidently recognise that fact'. -The Wellington people are always out to see the fair thing done, and I am sure that Aucklanders will he favourable to bringing the fares there in . line with "Wellington, the Empire City.’’