TAXI TAXI!!

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 41, 22 January 1943, Page 5

TAXI TAXI!!

QUESTION OF NEW STAND * ( -COMPANY VERSUS BOROUGH COUNCIL "I rather favoured the move recommended by the Works £ Committee, until I had a ring 'from the manager just before the meeting, when I lost a lot of it," saidi the Mayor at the liast meeting of the Whakatane Bor•ough Council when the question of effecting a change in the pre- • sent taxi stand was under dis•cussion. Mr Barry said that he had been threatened that even if the council •decided not to grant, the new stand, the company would continue to use the new situation and, defy it as it "Was claimed that it had a perefct right to park its. cars in front of its '•own business premises. The said he had pointed out that if the cars plied for hire as licensed taxis 'they must use the stand provided ' by the council for that purpose. "As I said," said Mr Barry, "I Avas in- - dined to the company's view regarding the site, but Avhen those, sort ■of tactics are used they are not likely to improve relations." The position briefly was that the ■•■■new Taxi Company, which holds the three licenses for the Borough, -moved into permanent quarters in the Civic Buildings and sought the right to establish a new stand in front of the premises. The matter was. referred to the Borough Council's Works Committee which after on January 4th passed the following recommendation: — "That the taxi stand by Rivctts 'be cancelled and one provided at

the Civic Buildings, as requested. 'The exact location to be decided by the Foreman-Engineer and. Traffic Inspector Delves." This though merely a recommendation to the full, council meeting, which alone can make the authorisation,. was apparently sufficient to allow the firm to anticipate, its request being granted. A week before the meeting therefore the taxis were removed to the. new stand and have been and still are operating from there.

Mr Barry discussing the position further said that he had received jjrotests against the new stand from Messrs Sloane and Abbott, who occupied business premises in the same block and who claimed that it •would, be quite impossible in the •limited area available to cater for a taxi stand and their own respective clients. Mr Sloane had also made a point of the number of Maoris who congregated round a taxi stand, who would congest the -entrance to his rooms and also ■create undesirable scenes. "We've got to realise," said Mr Barry, "that wherever Ave put them Ave'J I receive little sympathy. v Cr Canning: We have gone to a lot of trouble, to satisfy these taxis ±>ut apparently there is still going to be trouble. He thought there -was plenty of room opposite the Ladies Restroom. Cr Mulholland thought that anywhere in the; proximity of the. Ladies Restroom would be. most unsuitable. He Avas supported in this contention by Cr Cummings. Cr Sullivan finally moved that the stand remain where it was and that in the meantime the Works go into the matter with a view to ■discovering a suitable position. "Every time Avc've had anything to do Avith the taxi stand we've had 'trouble/' lie said. "We haven't yet rfound one that suited them, and "\ve have to take into consideraion the attitude of the owners of the .premises in the vicinity." Cr Caisley seconded pointing out that the new company included also two buses which would further aggravate the question of traffic congestion at the monument. The motion was carried.