REDUCTION IN TAXIS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20890, 20 November 1937, Page 21

REDUCTION IN TAXIS

POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, November 19 The number of taxi-cabs operating in the Christchurch transport district is to be reduced from 165 to 134. This pronouncement was made by the Metropolitan Transport Licensing Authorty for the Christchurch district, which also announced its acceptance of the principle of basing fares on “cab miles” rather than on “passenger miles.”

Directions were also made by the licensing authority regarding the wages to be paid to taxi-drivers, and an announcement was also made that “the system of payment by way of commisson on earnings is prohibited." The licensing authorty held two public sittings in Christchurch, one in September and the other in October, to receive evidence and representations in favour of or against the granting of applications for passenger service licences. Eighty-four persons made application for licences in respect of 157 vehicles.

To-day’s meeting by the authority was presided over by the Mayor (Mr J. W. Beanland), and associated with him w r ere Crs. T. Milliken, J. S. Barnett and E. Parlane.

Gold Band Taxis, Ltd., represented by Mr C. S. Trillo, which had applied for 52 licences, was granted 42, and the Rink Taxis, Ltd., which had applied for 23 licences, was granted 21. The remaining 71 licences were granted to private individuals, each operating only one taxi-cab. The licences commence to-day and expire on March 31, 1938.

The wages of drivers are to be award wages where an award is in force, otherwise they are to be not less than £4/10/- a week, plus an additional 2/for every hour in excess of 10 hours spent in driving a taxi-cab within any period of 24 hours during that week. Tire system of payment by way of commission on earnings is prohibited.