SCENES OF ROWDYISM

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 20, 19 October 1943, Page 6

SCENES OF ROWDYISM

Taxi Telephones Put Out Of Action DISTURBANCE IN WELLINGTON

Scenes of rowdyism and considerable disruption to the taxi service occurred in Wellington last night, telephones in private boxes in the city area used by the local taxi companies being put. out of action.

The demand for taxis was insistent from an early hour in the evening. When this could not be satisfied the callers "ave vent to their annoyance by wreexTn- telephones, two in Cainbriilge Xerrace and one in Dixon Street being rendered useless through the receivers being ripped off. At one sta„e military police were called in and broke up the disturbance, but the unrulv elements resumed their activities later. Two taxis were also taken without authority from their stands. In one case the driver had the keys in his pocket, and some mystery attaches to just how those responsible were enabled to drive the car. As a consequence oi these disturbances Wellington’s taxis were unable to operate to the satisfaction of clients. When two private boxes were put out of action in Cambridge Terrace, the companies operating them used the only other private telephone in that locality, which threw an additional burden on the switchboard of a third company. Drivers found great difficulty in checking in and receiving notification of waiting calls. Any dislocation-of taxi telephones is widely felt, particularly with, urgent cases, such as sickness. Last night was not the first occasion during anproximately the past 18 months that this has occurred, and one taxi firm has found in telephone repair almost a permanent job for one of the staff. The extent of the dislocation last night, however, was greater than usual.