TAXI LICENSES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15594, 10 August 1921, Page 9

TAXI LICENSES.

SHOULD AN A EI’LIGATION BE GRANTED? At the meeting of the Borough Council last tiiglli) sumo disriiskioti etunicd on the matter of gtaiiting a taxi-driver's license to Alan J:. Littlef; Messrs. Tiei and Nugent, solicilorsi forwarded a foltnal application otl behalf of Alan F. Littler. for a taxidriver’s (license, also a petition, and trusted that the matter would have the Council’s favorable attention. The text of the petition is as follows: (D That Alan Frangis Littler has been known to your petitioners for several years past as an honest, honorable, and reliable citizen, cab driver, and taxi-driver: (2) that, although two convictions haye been entered agninid him. yet we are of the opinion that he has been the victim mil of guilt, but of misfortune, (hat is fu say, that tie whs unfortunate ill not haviiig had suliieiehl evidence to prove his innocence ill the two prosecutions against him. Wo do not disagree Willi the Magistrate’s decision against Littler, but we do say that- Littler. owing fo liis consciousness of his innocence, did /lot exert himself to adduce evidence to disprove the charges: 13) that we are informed, and verily believe, I bat. Littler has dependants upon him, and is not suitable for any calling other than that of a taxi-driver. Your petitioners there-: tore pray that you will grant the said Alan Francis Littler a license as a taxidriver.’’ About SO signal mi s of well-known citizens were attached to the pc! it 1011. The. Mayor said that it was not for the Council to go into the question of whether Liltler was guilty or not. 'The Council had Insncetor Cassell's report, and it was unfavorable, stating that Littler was until to hold n taxi-driver’s license. If the Council chose to go over The police report and grant Littler a license, then, if would not he a wise thing to do. It was entirely necessary to have the -approval of the police in such mat!ers. C’r. Coleman: Hear, hear! T agree with the Mayor that it might he unwise to grant a ’license, and go above the joiice report. But I do hope that this nan will not make Littler a victim, and to be held out as a victim for ever. His livelihood i/as been taken away from him. and l hope that the police will not always bar Littler from obtaining a license, and that they will judge him on his presenl mode of living, and not his past. Cr. DeCosta : If LTtler is only given a chance to reform he will do so. Tv'e have 30 signatures of respectable citizen:; m the town, fife (hen read out Ihe names >f those who had signed). He moved that Littler should be written to and advised fo foi wijiii his application to the Council in three months’ time. Littler had a family of four and had to earn a living. Perhaps then the police would report favorably. Cr. Coleman agreed to Cr DeCosta’s motion. Cr. Bail, for the benefit of the new councillors, asked what was the nature of the two -convictions against Littler. The .Mayor staled that one was in connection with the theft of coal from the power house, and the other was foi supplying liquor to Maoris. Ur. Coleman: Littler was only the man who drove in the ear: the woman who stole the coal. tr. Gray thought that the matte! could be further inquired into. Ur. DeCosla withdrew his motion, and the Mayor undertook to interview In spcctor Cassells on the mat ter.