TAXI NOT AN OMNIBUS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 17 June 1926, Page 2

TAXI NOT AN OMNIBUS.

" INTERPRETATION OF BY-LAW. By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, June 16. Defence based on interpretation ot* a by-law suceeded in the Bolide Court this morning, when Robert Cairns (MiGoldstone) was charged that, being the driver of an omnibus, to wit, a, taxicab, lie did knowingly carry a person who was misconducting, himself. A constable stated that on the evening of April 3rd defendant came to him and complained that a. passenger had refused to pay his faro. Witness wont to defendant’s car, and saw in it a drunken woman partially disrobed. Cairns said that two men, one of whom was the passenger complained of, were fighting on King’s Wharf, but when witness arrived there they had disappeared. Mr Goldstone told Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M., that tho defence was twofold, one on a question of law, and tho other on facts. He contended in support of the first, that the by-law regarding omnibuses did not apply to taxis A taxi was not an omnibus under the by-law. The Magistrate said he would look into it, and asked that the caso as regards facts should i proceed. j Mr Goldstone said defendant did not | know what was going on in the back 1 of his ear, but as soon as ho became j aware of anything being wrong ho went , for the police. j The Senior-Sergeant: His object ! was to get his fare. i Mr Goldstone remarked that it defendant was condoning an offence the police would be the last people he would call to the scene. After hearing the evidence of defendant, the Magistrate said he was j satisfied that the by-law regarding omnibuses did not apply to taxi-cabs, and the charge was dismissed.