TAXI DRIVERS FINED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20331, 14 June 1934, Page 15

TAXI DRIVERS FINED.

Services in Opposition to

Buses. Per Press Association. HASTINGS, June 13. Arising out of a visit by an officer of the Transport Department to Hastings recently, when he engaged some 6d taxis, a charge of carrying on a motor passenger service other than that for which authority was granted was preferred against Ethel Newrick. Colin A. Newrick and Frederick Charles Newrick before Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court. The case against Colin Newrick was dismissed. Each of the others was fined £3, with £2 4s costs.

Mr Barratt, counsel for the department, pointed out there were licensed omnibuses operating in the district and that the taxis were in opposition to no small extent with the buses. The regulations debarred separate lares being charged except by licensed vehicles. Evidence would show that separate fares were offered and accepted by the drivers of defendants’ services. The department had no objection to defendants charging 6d or 6s a mile, but it objected to the charge being per passenger.

For the defence, Mr Duff said that separates fares were not paid. If one person engaged a vehicle, the charge was 6d a mile. If there were two or more, then the charge was Is a mile. The charge was on the vehicle and not on the passenger.

liis Worship said he was satisfied that separates fares were charged and defendants would be convicted. He was treating the proceedings as a test case and would inflict a nominal penalty.