TAXI LICENCE REFUSED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25300, 10 August 1943, Page 2

TAXI LICENCE REFUSED

PRESENT SERVICE ADEQUATE The Dunedin Metropolitan Licensing Authority has given a written decision refusing the application of Mr David Smyth Coutts, a returned soldier of the present war, for a licence to operate a taxi in the city. “We are of the opinion that on the evidence placed before us, the decision states, "the applicant has failed to prove that this application is either necessary'or desirable in the public interest.” „ x „ _ .. The authority stated that Mr Coutts was at present a driver for a local -taxi firm and that the application upon which its decision had been given was lodged two days after a similar application by Mr Coutts had been refused by the authority. Traffic Inspector’s Evidence

Reference was made to the evidence of the chief traffic inspector for Dunedin (Mr E. H. Barrett), who stated that in his opinion the existing taxi service was adequate at the present time, that he did not consider an increase necessary or desirable, that no complaints had been received from private and maternity hospitals, and that several matrons had spoken highly of the prompt and efficient service of the taxi industry. This evidence supported that of members of the Control Committee set up by the Government. It was inevitable that in war time there must be a certain amount of delay and inconvenience in obtaining the services of a taxi. Even in peace time the same annoyances occurred to a lesser degree. . The authority went on to quote a judgment of Sir Francis Frazer, as Transport Appeal Authority, in which he said that, before granting a new licence, a licensing authority should require cogent evidence to satisfy itself that the existing licences were insufficient to give a reasonable wartime service to the public. Sir Francis Frazer had also pointed out that it was important to realise that if an excessive number of licences was granted to meet present abnormal conditions, hardship would follow when normal conditions were restored because licensees would be unable to make a living and either some licences would have to be cancelled or fares would have to be raised. The authority expressed agreement with these statements, having regard particularly to the known shortage of petrol and tyres and the earnest request of the Government that these commodities should be conserved as far as possible and also that the taxi service should be co-ordinated and stabilised. Available Taxis The authority added: "At the present time in this district there is a taxi to approximately every 700 inhabitants, which is a higher proportion than that in any other large centre in New Zealand. The generally recognised proportion is one taxi to every 1000 people. If we take Dunedin’s population at approximately 85,000, we should have 85 taxis. We havs 120 taxis.” The authority added that there seemed to be a tendency throughout the hearing to lose sight of the fact that this application did not resolve itself into a decision whether a licence should be granted to a returned soldier or not. The authority had the greatest sympathy with returned soldiers, and if licences were available and other things were equal, the returned men would receive every consideration. "We are, in fact, holding the licences for every man who was the holder of a licence before he went away, until his return from the war, and wc will not allow the disposal of such licences without their consent," the authority continued. In conclusion, the authority stated: “We feel it also our duty to point out that in our opinion there Is a serious defect in the Act, which, while providing for a right of appeal to the Minister from the decision of a licensing authority, does not prevent a fresh application being lodged immediately after a decision has been made. There should be some space of time—-say, six or twelve months—before a disappointed applicant should be allowed to apply again unless conditions are very materially altered. Otherwise the position becomes absurd."