TAXI TRADE IN CITY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19134, 1 October 1936, Page 10

TAXI TRADE IN CITY

SHARE SYSTEM OPPOSED TROUBLES OF DRIVERS LOW PAY AND LONG HOURS (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, last night. • onliuuing his evidence before the inquiry into the. luxi and carrying business this afternoon, Mr. C. S. Trilio, proprietor of Gold Band Taxis, alleged that several of the city bylaws had been framed solely against him.

“ft is well known in the taxi business,” he said, ‘‘that 1 am being robbed of hundreds of pounds a yeai and that is why I openly challenge Mi Parlane or even the drivers themselves to prove their actual'earnings. ” Mr. Trilio said that, when‘ho started business in Christchurch, the taxi drivers were charging Its (id for the first mile for live passengers and the charge was then 17s fid for five passengers for live miles. He started with low fares in July, 1929, and in fife and a-half months to the end oi the year made a net profit of £lsßl. WORST PLACE IN NEW ZEALAND

In answer to u question Mr. Trilio said that he could not pay £4 or £4 10s a week to drivers at the present fares. He agreed that Christchurch was the worst place in New Zealand for taxis.

■Mr. . Parlane; Do you recall 87 or your drivers being prosecuted for paving no wages tax and saying they would be better on relief as their wages were less than 80s a week? — Mr. Trilio: 1 will not admit that those wages were right, because tampering with the speedometers had been going on for some time. The chairman asked Mr. Parlane if the employees’ organisation was taking any steps to try to get an award, and Mr. Parlane replied that no steps were being taken at present, as it was very desirable that legislation be passed making the share system illegal. .Mr. George Francis Scott, a driver for Rink Taxis, said that low fares and non-payment for overtime were the reasons for the existing troubles. He was sure Gold Band drivers did not earn their salt. Any proprietor who provided cars at fid. a mile could do so only at the expense of. the drivers. There was too much uncertainty about commission w.ork and drivers stayed on the stands too long, hoping to make more money. He had seen drivers sleep in cars at the railway station to keep their places on the rank when the boat- train came in. too Many cars in city. Mr. Archie Harold Finch, ownerdriver of the Blue Star .organisation, declared that the cause of all the trouble in the taxi business was the share system. When the Gold Band drivers were making the large sums referred to, they had only a few cars on the road and the public would use no others. They drove out every firm paying wages except the Rink Taxis. When the Meet was built up to about .50, the drivers’ takings were greatly reduced, and some drivers had had to apply to the e.oal and blanket fund for assistance. Ho contended that there were too many taxis in Christchurch, 1 and suggested that the transfer of a business be prohibited until the number lie brought down to 120. Three Gold Band drivers were called at the request of the chairman. One, an office driver, said that his commission never amounted to very much. Last week he received 80s to 8.55, and the week before £2 to £2 os. His average daily hours were 10 or 11, and lie often worked seven days a week.

Another driver said that he worked every night for an average return of between £2 and £B. Another driver said that his average earnings were about B:ss weekly, llis average hours were 18 or Id a day, six days a week.