TAXI CAB WARFARE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19134, 1 October 1936, Page 15

TAXI CAB WARFARE

CANTERBURY CONDITIONS evidence AT INQUIRY SOME BRISK EXCHANGES (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. There were some brisk exchanges between the Hop, W. Hayward, M.L.C., manager of the Rink Taxi Company, am Mr 0 S. Trillo, proprietor of Cold Band Taxis, when Mr. Hayward coneluded hi* evidence before the inquiry into the taxi and carrying business this morning. Cross-examination by Mr. Tnllo drew the. remark from Mr. Hayward that "Gold Randa were such outlaws and by-law breakers that no meeting to straighten things out would think, ot inviting a Gold Band representative. Christchurch had a population of 132,530, and the number of taxi licenses was 165, said Mr. Hayward. It- would bo much better to reduce the numbei of licenses to one per ICOO of the population. In the last four years his farm had had only eight Accidents “I have not paid a dividend for iu years,” said Mr. Hayward, in reply to a question from Mr. Trillo. Mr. Trillo then gave details of bold Band drivers’ earnings, saying that some had earned as high as £l4 a week. “Would you be surprised to hear that?” asked Mr. Trillo. Mr. Hayward: I could never be surprised by anything you could say or do. “OUTLAWS AND LAW BREAKERS” “You said you made a blunder. What was it?” Mr. Trillo asked. Mr. Hayward: 1 blundered in imagining that your unfair tactics would soon ne stopped. Mr. Trillo: The court held that my methods were legal. ' , , “With your convictions both here and in Invercargill it might be as well not to talk about courts,” replied Mr. Hayward. _ , , , Mr. Trillo: Why was I not asked to the taxi proprietors’ meetings? “Gold Band taxis,” said Mr. Hayward to tho chairman, “are such outlaws, such by-law breakers that no meeting of people making a genuine effort to straighten tilings out would think of asking a Gold Band representative. Gold Band cars are outlaws.” Mr. Trillo, in evidence, said he introduced the hiring or commission system. As a result of a Supreme Court action ho was allowed to continue, and this meant the winding up of the Taxi , Drivers’ Union. Mr. E. Parlanc, seero--1 tary of the union, had been up against him ever since, and had been active in getting firms and others to boycott him. Mr. Parlane had used his influence as a city councillor to turn the council against him. The City Council had even circularised local firms asking them to cancel contracts with Gold Band. “In 19g9,” added Mr. Trillo, “a deputation of my drivers asked my assurance that .they would hot be put oh Wages. To this T agreed, and I have kept Ay word.” ‘ n ...