TAXI TRADE CONTROL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19126, 22 September 1936, Page 13

TAXI TRADE CONTROL

POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS

OPENING OF INQUIRY

HIGHER FARES SUGGESTED

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day

The national inquiry into the taxi and carrying business for the purpose ol securing belter organisation, regulation and control was opened to-dav. I lie committee consists of Messrs. P. Al. Bidler as chairman, and J. Walker. The order of reference is : “To make inquiries into the town carrier and taxicab systems in the Dominion and with a view to improving their general etlicjeiicy to the public, promoting their coordination with other forms of transport, and improving the working conditions of the persons engaged, and to consider and report what measures, it any, should be adopted for their better organisation, regulation and control.” The chairman said that they anticipated the- fullest, co-operation and' assistance from the operators, employees, local bodies and departments of fit ate affected, and indeed all those interested, so that the essential facts might lie brought forward to enable them to arrive, at a conclusion for the purpose of making recommendations for a general improvement of ihe services affected. Statements or any matter affected would be accepted from interested parties, who might, produce evidence to support such statements. KVIDKNCE TO BE SWORN Evidence would be sworn and subject to cross-examination by any of the other parties affected by the. statements or evidence, lie also said that they would appreciate to the fullest co-opera-tion in keeping the. inquiry to the- shortest period of time, without curtailing the. rights of any person, affected. The first witness was Mr. Albert Morey, of the Black and White Taxi Company, who said that the cost of operating a cab of his company was a little under 5d a mile. If the. fare were increased to 7d or 8d a. mile, the owner would be able to pay the driver a week lv wage of £4 ss. He suggested that the position could Lie improved by the issue of special licenses for race days and similar occasions.

lie mentioned that a proposal to amalgamate with another company had fallen through, and said it would have reduced expenses 25 per cent, lie gave figures to show savings that would be got from a company controlling ICO cabs or more.

There are no capitalists in the taxi business to-day. Men who owned cars were scratching for a living. The position would be relieved if higher lares were fixed. As a. result of the keen competition, men were required to be oil the stands at trie railway station and wharves many hours before the arrival of a train or boat to got a suitable stand.