HOTELS AND TAXI CALLS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 70, 15 December 1917, Page 15

HOTELS AND TAXI CALLS

THE LICENSEES' SIDE.

Messrs. P. Griffin (yresideut) and R. Dwyer (secretaii , ) of the Wellington Lioensed Victuallers' Association waited on tho City Council on Thursday and made tho following statement: —"The Licensed Victuallers' Assooia- , tion of Wellington hare considered'the letter of December' 6, sent by the City Council to their members, in which it is stated that the.council would hfe.glad, if hotelkeepers would see that their, telepionee are , not used for the purpose, of hiring taxi-cabs unless the hotelkeeper was prepared to make himself responsible for at least tho minimunv fare._ The letter further states, that certain complaints have, been'inado to , tho By-laws Committee by. a number, of taxi-drivers that they havo had to roraovo drunken and disreputable persons from hotels. In reply, the association desires to point out that no such common practice exists as is alleged in the council's letter. It would be quit© impracticable for h hotelkeeper to make himself responsible for 1 engagements entered into by his gueste on the telephone. If a taxi-driver has any doubts as to" the bona-ndes of an order received by him from a hotel, bo can easily get the order confirmed by telephone at the hotel office, and the hotelkeeper will then be responsible. Tho association is satisfied, as. a result of careful inquiries, that there is 110 truth in the statement referred to in paragraph 2 of this letter, and it regrets that such a statement should have been given jrablicity -without the rmrncil first inquiring into its. truth.The police report on the conduct of hotels should show there is no justification for the taxi-drivers' complaint." After discussion, tho matter was referred to the By-laws Committee.