PETROL FOR TAXIS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 85, 12 April 1940, Page 9

PETROL FOR TAXIS

INCREASE SUGGESTED TIME FOR REORGANISATION AUCKLAND, April 9. A decision to recommend the district oil fuel controller to increase the maximum petrol allowances for taxis to 130 gallons for single-shift vehicles and 180 gallons for those on double shifts for the present month only was made at a meeting of the Auckland Transport Board, sitting as the Metropolitan Licensing Authority, yesterday. This course was taken in view of the steps by the authority to reorganise the taxi business in Auckland. Petrol supplies for taxis had given the authority some concern, said the chairman, Mr. W. H. Nagle, and he thought there should be, some latitude for this month, when the industry could consider reorganising on a new basis. Later, when the taxi companies had considered the matter, the authority would open the question of petrol supplies as far as it was competent. A number of petitions from drivers against the recent curtailment of supplies were covered by this action. A letter was also received from the secretary of the Checker Taxicab Society stating that the petrol restrictions would force drivers to commit breaches of their licences in so far as lack of fuel would prevent their carrying out certain services and cause them to earn less than the statutory amount. It was decided to receive the letter. Mr. J. A. C. Allum suggesting that those who were responsible for cutting down the petrol should be responsible for the consequences of it. Considerable discussion took place on a request from the district oil fuel controller asking for the views of the authority on long-distance trips being undertaken by taxi, the chairman at first proposing that, except in cases of emergency, these should not be permitted. It was suggested by Mr. Allum, however, that the authority was not in possession of the facts to judge needs outside the metropolitan area, and the oil fuel controller should -be advised to this effect. A motion on these lines was passed, after Mr. A. S. Bailey had moved as an amendment that the matter be allowed to stand, as the restriction of petrol effectively prevented this becoming a practice.