SYDNEY'S TAXI BUSES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21147, 3 October 1930, Page 10

SYDNEY'S TAXI BUSES.

FORCED OFF THE STREETS. MENACE TO THEN TRAMS. ■’ (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, September 26. It is some months now since a system of taxi-buses was introduced into Sydney, and considering the benefits they bestowed on the residents of outlying suburbs it is not surprising that they should become, a serious menace to the trams, already a losing proposition. The authorities made several moves to force the taxi-buses off the streets, but tbe traffic laws were so framed that the proprietors of the services had little difficulty in keeping within (hem. Prosecution after prosecution followed, but the taxis remained, and now they are carrying more than 5000 people to the city every day. In some cases the taxis havq reduced the time for a journey to the city by as much as 40 minutes, and the fares have not been greatly in excess of the trams. Passengers have willingly paid the small difference in order to benefit by the greater speed and the greater comfort. The comfort of travel * has not’ been a notable factor, however, as the taxis are almost invariably overcrowded. When all else failed the Government brought into existence the Transport Trust, which, besides having complete charge of the tramways, has been given a great deal of latitude in dealing with all forms of transport. It is empowered to deal with all cases of overlapping as far as transport is concerned, and as it is solely responsible for the financing of the trams, there is every Indication that it will deal harshly with any competition from which the trams are suffering, Already it has decided that 126 of the taxibuses must' go. Nobody will be permitted to run a taxi-bus of any description without the payment of an almost prohibitive license fee ? and even so, the trust is under no obligation to grant a license. It has already intimated that licenses will be panted only to'services which are providing feeders for the trams. The taxi owners say that they are not competing with the trams, for the reason that they are charging more 'than the trams, and that the picking up places are some distance from the tram lines. They are convinced that the public wants the taxis, so they are going to fight to the last ditch, as.lt were. So great aVe the powers of the trust that they will probably land in the ditch all right. The only thing that may save them is public opinion, which is undoubtedly in their favour. However, it is certain that the trams cannot go on losing thousands weekly as they are to-day, and the public may see this point of view, though that is doubtful. As matters stand now tbe taxi-buses have until the end of the month to get off the streets and make way for the trams.