TAXI INQUIRY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20532, 25 September 1936, Page 11

TAXI INQUIRY

WASTEFUL COMPETITION By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, September 24. Proposals and recommendations to bring about co-ordination and improvement in the general conditions of the carrying and transport Industry in Wellington were submitted to-day to the committee of Inquiry investigating this and the taxi business throughout the Dominion. Mr Georgeson on behalf of the General Carriers and Customhouse and forwarding agents Industrial Union of Employers, said the objective of the master carriers was the elimination of wasteful competition with a view to reducing the burden of national transport costs, and the better ulitisation of the capital employed. The basis of the national scheme of co-ordination appeared to be that the New Zealand Railways should deal with long distance haulage, while a mobile fleet of city and town carriers could deal with short distance cartage, to and from the railways. It was contended that all carriers should be licensed under the Transport Licensing Act, and be governed by Court conditions, and be in a position to conduct sound business. There should be only one licensing authority. Unless and until the exempted areas were removed, there could be no means to prevent unfair competition. In order to obviate the competition experienced by the railernment should fix flat rates, so that ways, it was suggested that the Govthe rates charged would, in effect, demand transportation by rail of all goods. Another deterimental fact was the system the P. and T. Department adopted. It should be regulated on a more equitable basis. It was revealed in evidence given to the Commission that drivers were in the habit of spending the night in their cabs in order to keep their places on stands at the ferry wharves. O. S. Graham, a yellow cab driver on commission, said that about 2 a.m., when there were no rings, drivers employed by big companies would go down to the ferry wharf and wait for the boat. Some could be found sleeping in their cabs with windows closed. Black and White Cabs were the worst offenders. Witness alleged that there was i White Band owner who also worked on the City Council Tramways. Frederick Reeve said that he was one of the drivers who made a practice of sleeping at the wharf. He had been accustomed to work 23 hours a day. The chairman: That means that you did not take your clothes off at all? How long did that go on for? Witness: About ten months. The chairman: Do you mean to say you did not change your clothes for ten months. Witness: I am talking about six days of the week.