TAXI-STANDS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 21, 20 October 1920, Page 3

TAXI-STANDS

DEFINITE LOCATION FOR EACH CAR

AN EQUITABLE ARRANGEMENT

For some time past the By-laws Committee of tho City Council, as well as tlio taxi-proprietors of Wellington, havo boon considerably exercised as to stand rights Up till a few days ago any taxi-driver could pull up on any stand in the city that he liked, providing there was sufficient room, and not infrequently there were differences between them ns to the tactics adoptea. Some little time back, however, tho Taxi-Proprietois' Association asked tho Citv Council to intervene by drawing up a scheme whereby tho taxis would bo moro evenlT divided between the various stands. The matter was carefully considered, and a plan was devised whereby- tho stands would be balloted for amongst the owners of taxis,. with tho understanding that no matter what stand was drawn, the particular car concerned would have tho right to Ufa that stand, and no other nntil the next ballot. The plan was agreed to, and the ballot has already taken placo. At the drawing tho licensed numbers of tho cars plying for hire were placed in ono box and the numbers of the stands in another box. Then, as Councillor M. Luckie (chairman of the Hy-laws Committee! drow a car number, Mr. L. S. Drake (motor inspector) drew the stand number. . There are. now eleven taxi-stands in the city, and only those cars drawn for a particular stand may use Hie same. It is pointed out that the new arrangement will benefit all concerned. A perron mav haro a preference for n certain car and driver, and knowing his stand, will know at onra where to get him or communicate with him through other drivers on the stand (each of which has its own telephone), instfad of having to range the city for him. At the same timo it is an added protection for the public, for if a "fare" leaves anything in a taxi he can at once make it known to the inspector that he secured the car from this or tlirjt stand, and the article can thus be traced. Furthermore, there has been no small amount of trouble in the past over the abuse of stand telephones and the lack of care oxercifed in tho use of them. Under the new system tho telephone may only be used by the drivers of cars on that particular stand, who are held responsible for its-condition. The system is considered so sound that the assistant chief telegraph engineer is recommending its adoption in other centre?.

A new taxi stand and 'phone liave been provided at- Clyde Quay (opposite the City Hotel),