TAXI SERVICES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 176, 28 July 1942, Page 3

TAXI SERVICES

ESSENTIAL WORK

CONTROL COMMITTEE MEETS

The first meeting of the recently constituted Auckland Taxicab Control Committee was held yesterday. The committee comprises Messrs. J. A. C. Sinclair, F. I. Drumm and C. D. Bowlder, and covers a district which extends from Kumeu in the north to Papakura in the south and includes the North Shore.

In a memorandum from the Commissioner of Transport, it was suggested that the committee give careful consideration to severe restriction on "hail" work and the desirability of making it compulsory for taxi drivers to report to the nearest stand. If this were done the committee should be able to keep an adequate check on the operations of taxis, arrange the maximum amount of two-way loading possible and provide essential services.

A circular letter from the Minister of Transport, Mr. Semple, stressed the urgency of essential work being catered for in the first instance. Essential and non-essential work was classified as follows:—

Essential: Maternity calls; transport of sick, injured and physically unfit people; blood donors, to and from hospital; workers to and from work where other means of transport were not available; passengers and luggage to and from trains, boats and air services; unescorted women and children during blackout hours; urgent E.P.S. work where other means of transport were not available; urgent calls to see hospital patients dangerously ill; funeral and wedding cars to a reasonable number; urgent business calls; transport to and from banks for people carrying money; urgent non-pleasure transport when other means of transport was not running.

Non-essential: Races; football and sports gatherings; traffic that could reasonably be handled by other means of transport, e.g., trams, buses and railway; trips of more than 20

miles; transport of persons involving mainly the transport of nonessential goods; hotel work other than that included in essential; plying for hire other than on public stands; dances, dance bands, concert parties and pleasure outings.

The grave shortage of tyres that was being faced was pointed out by the Minister, who said the control committees could count on his full support in any reasonable action taken.

At present the Auckland committee is preparing its proposals and in the meantime urges taxi licensees and the public to eliminate nonessential work.