TAXICAB CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 257, 29 July 1942, Page 4

TAXICAB CONTROL

Wellington Committee Constituted ESSENTIAL SERVICE FIRST Constituted to cover a district which includes in addition to Wellington both Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt, tne Wellington Taxicab Control Committee has received directions from the Commissioner of Transport and held its inaugural meeting yesterday. Another meeting will bo held later this week to frame regulations which are to be put into operation in the capital. A circular letter has been received from the Minister of Transport stating that it is particularly urgent that committees of this nature take steps to see that taxis cater for 'essential work in the first instance.

It has been suggested to the committee that the arrangement of two-way loadings as far as possible will save considerable petrol and tyres, aud that ■’hail” work might be severely restricted. By ‘making it obligatory for the taxi-drivers to report to the nearest stand, it is considered that an adequate check can be kept on their operations, besides providing essential services and for maximum loading. It has been pointed out to the committee that everything possible should be done to ensure that only legal fares are charged, on account of the general complaints of over-charging, and that if it is considered that the legal fares are too low, the matter should be taken up with the appropriate licensing authority by the taxi licensees. Taxi work is 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 note-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 non-essential goods; hotel work other than that included in essential; plying for hire other than on public stands; dances, dauce bands, concert parties, and pleasure outings. The grave shortage of tyres that is bein<r faced is pointed out by the Minister, who states that the control committees can count on his full support in any reasonable action taken.

A similar ipceting to that held in Wellington has been held in Auckland, where the Taxicab Control Committee is preparing its proposals also, and in the meantime is urging taxi licensees and the public to eliminate non-esseutial work. The position in Wellington has been felt acutely for a period, due to taxi services at night, when they are most wanted, being practically monopolized by visiting servicemen, and to the number of drivers and taxis in billets each night with E.F.'S. crews.