ALLEGED TAXI NUISANCE

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1932, Page 7

ALLEGED TAXI NUISANCE

COMPLAINT MADE TO COUNCIL. COURT INJUNCTION MENTIONED. Complaints from the Bank of Australasia regarding the taxi-stand outside its premises at New Plymouth were further discussed by the Borough Council last night upon receipt of a letter suggesting that, failing a settlement, application would be made for an injunction restraining taxi-cabs from taking up a position outside the bank. The nuisance had steadily increased during recent weeks, wrote a lawyer who had 'been instructed by the bank manager, Mr. F. C. Walton. It would appear,-he said, that everything possible had been done by Mr. Walton to prevail on the council. to move, but from Mr. R. Day’s report it seemed the council preferred to leave matters as they stood. Instructions had been received from the head office to take steps to stop the nuisance, but before proceeding' for an injunction the solicitor said he desired to negotiate with the council for a form of settlement. Since the council’s attention had first been drawn to the matter it appeared that an all-night service on the stand had been inaugurated. The bedrooms of the bank’s residential quarters directly faced upon the stand and the tap telephone, and the manager and his family found they were unable to sleep. All night long there were noises from the stand consisting of telephone rings, banging doors, starting of engines and general conversation among the drivers. In recent weeks the general commotion had considerably increased until it had reached a stage seriously affecting the occupants of the residential , quarters. A definite and immediate indication was asked from the council whether the nuisance was to cease and the taxis withdrawn from the stand. Failing this, concluded the solicitor, his definite instructions were to take proceedings at the next session of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth. Unknown to others, reported Mr. Day, after the receipt of the letter from the solicitor he took up a position under the verandah of the White Hart Hotel. This was at 11 p.m. and he took. a careful note of the cars and pedestrians until midnight. At 12.30 a.m. he returned to note the position again. From his observations he contended it had been shown positively: (a) That no annoyance arose from the cars on. the stand. The cars were handled quietly and the men sat ready in their cars, (b) The telephone rang once during the, hour and should not be heard in the bank, (c) The street outside the bank is on a steep grade, causing the street noises to be worse than usual. He confirmed his opinion that there was no / cause for complaint arising from the tax; stand. , . , Devon Street was not the only street in which motorists made noises, commented the Mayor. He heard them outside his own house, not only early in the evening but also through the night. “I see they are having the same trouble outside the Hotel Laurier a Ottawa,” said Cr. R. W. D. Robertson. “They have had to engage special squads of police so that the New Zealand delegates may have their sleep. Mr. Day said he was satisfied when he made his observations on Friday lUSht there was nothing that could be called a nuisance. . Cr. T. P. Anderson suggested that in view of the suggestion of an injunction the council should go further into tho matter. . i The Mayor and Councillors Anderson and Pentecost were deputed to interview Mr. Walton and report to the council.