THE TAXI MURDER

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 105, 31 October 1933, Page 10

THE TAXI MURDER

AN AUCKLAND PROPOSAL

TO PROTECT DRIVERS

A proposal has been made by the Chief Traffic Inspector at Auckland, Mr. G. K. Hogan, to the City Council that the' bylaws or regulations in that city should contain a provision requiring some form of structural protection of taxi-car drivers, so making impossible a repetition of the ghastly taxi murder at Mount /Boskill recently.

In recommending that a partition be fitted to every taxi-cab, Mr. Hogan said he had conferred with representatives of the various taxi-cab interests, who, while agreeing that some protection should be afforded to drivers, had mentioned difficulties. It had been claimed that the partition would prove a danger to passengers in the event of an accident, but it was also suggested that in the event of a head-on collision the passenger did not experience the risk of being thrown through the front windshield.

The suggestion that an extension and removable grill should be the form of partition was not advisable, as some of the drivers might neglect to set it in position, and a partition placed halfway across the Front seat would not afford the necessary protection to the driver.

Mr. Hogan recommended that taxicabs should be fitted with a permanent partition across the front seat the full width of the cab, the partition to be constructed of glass and polished wire, and fitted with a slide to be operated by the driver. He also recommended that the Government be asked to expedite the passing ,of the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill to enable the council to license cabs of a type suitable for taxi service. The Bill also provides for the limitation of cabs required for service and a minimum fare.

The council referred the proposal to a committee for consideration.

It is reported that one taxi-car at least in Auckland has been fitted with a wired glass screen and is running to regular business from its stand.

PARTITIONS IN WELLINGTON.

Taxi-car design is a subject which has not occupied the attention of tho Wellington City ■ Council recently, though a great deal has been said about taxi colours and meters, and so on. In 19.15 the council decided that a taxicab should be a taxi-cab, and instructed its officers to djaw up specifications for a standard cab which would ultimately displace all others. The specifications, which were based on Scotland Yard requirements, did provide for a partition between passenger and driver, tut the war was on and the idea was perforce dropped. When the taxi business expanded into company form in Wellington some : years ago, the pioneer company imported a number, of cars of conventional taxi design, with partitions, but as these machines have grown old in service they have been replaced by standard cars, and partitioned taxis are today in a small minority. As fin- as is known the Wellington Council is not considering any compulsory alteration of taxi interiors.