BACK TO NORMAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 237, 6 October 1928, Page 11

BACK TO NORMAL.

/ TAXI-CAB WARFARE.! ■••'■'■■-.■'■'■ ■■'■- ; ~---.vy: ; > ■-" ' I i PRICES UP ON OUTCOME ' OF' CONF EU l< N T CE. . -. lias-\ljecn- reached byvarious taxi,'.companies. ;::in Auckland, terminating the rate-"war.;; which; has been operating for several months-past, and new rates are to/come into. dp eration. next Monday: ■■■■ '-'J ■;■ .-\ '-. ■';'" ■■ j Sincefi.June' 20 last several ofi tho principal' companies■ have-been; charging passengers only, two-;thirds-of the| fare indicated on the meter, and the statement has been liiade from time toitimo that these cut. rates were VruiWus to business. - ■ -. ■ ■ . . ■;-.-y Among., those, who..met Lin .conference were Mr. E. W.McVilly, who represented the directors of the Black ;and White Cabs; Mr: P. Fre'e, of' the,' Checker Cabs; and Messrs. 'F. C. Dud'dleluid E. 0. Johnston, of' the Blue 'Cobs?'" It was resolved to reintroduce tho scale of fares adopted three years': ago' by the Checker Cabs when they began ; Operations.. From Monday the fares; will be 1/3 for. the.first third of a mile, anil sixpence for every other third. ; : Waiting time will be on a basis of sixpeuce for five ininutesl ■. ". _'< ' . \ J A year ago the rates were - the ;same, 1/0 instead of 1/3. When -the rate war opened/the charges were reduced by onethird. .:. ..... ■ "". i

The - whole arrangement is explained as : a mutual agreement, between the three largest companies, but that nothing in the nature of a combine has been: instituted,leacli'i service carrying on its o\yn particular busuijiss. as. previously. ' llr.'Free stated that all parties ngiCGcl that -it was impossible- to ruii efficient services with cut..rates. ":■ In tlie long run it - meant., unreasonable^.hours,:.foi-j emgloyees,; and a';lo\vering of tlie fitness o£ the men, to drive the ciiba.. There was no margin for--/proper7";overhaul; and supervision.- The : new>.rate: was ii'qt excessive for ,the service' giveif,r'tjie;ibusiness now being workable'foi".all, ; p"arties.