OVERCROWDED OCCUPATIONS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16159, 13 March 1918, Page 4

OVERCROWDED OCCUPATIONS.

RETURNED SOLDIERS AND MOTOR DRIVING. Motor-driving, or taxi-driving, may have been looked upon by many us a suitable calling for a returned soldier after ho had been restored to a fair measure of health, but judging by Wellington's experience it is not by any means popular with those who conic back (says tho "Post"). It is a fact that the number of licenses issued in Wellington to returned men is less than a dozen, and only four returned soldiers drive taxis. Two of the latter had the same occupation before they left the Dominion. Of course, there are many reasons why returned men have* not taken to motor-driving. For one thing, the number of taxis in Wellington excecris, so it is authoritatively asserted, the number required. A few years ago there were 18 taxis on the stands in Wellington. Now there arc no fewer than 126, and tho majority of these arc idle a greater part of the day. In fo,cfc, an expert has estimated tliat a taxi in Wellington is employed only one-tenth of the time it is v on the stand. It would appear, therefore, that taxi-driving is not the lucrative employment imagined by many, and perhaps the returned soldier is doing well by refraining from entering the taxi busings.

Although there has b<?cu a great increase in the number of motor-ears and petrol-driven vehicles in Wellington, tho demand for drivers has not been proportionate. The majority of carowners drive their own cars, and it is Stated that there is but very little opening for chauffeurs. Tho number of motor-bikes and petrol-driven vehicles registered in Wellington is now very .great. Originally the registration assigned to Wellington was the letter W, and the figures from 1000 to 1900. These were soon exhausted, and the letters WN, with figures commencing at 1, were allotted. Now there are nearlv 2700 cars bearing the letters WN. It is pointed out that many returned soldiers have done very well in country towns, where the competition has been less than in Wellington. However, with the establishment of various schools, it seems that motor-driving is fast becoming an overcrowded occupation.