TAXIS AT STATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 129, 2 June 1937, Page 4

TAXIS AT STATION

VIRTUAL BOYCOTT

OBJECTION TO FEE

(15y Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, June 1

Taxi-cab drivers of the two principal companies operating in Auckland have reached a decision which will mean a boycott of the arrival platform at the Auckland railway station unless the Department consents to a reduction in the charge of £1 a year at present made for the privilege of waiting at the platform to pick up fares. The decision was made at a mass meeting of drivers belonging to the two companies as well as independent drivers, but it was explained that the companies themselves were not concerned in the difference that has arisen.

The charge of £1 a. year for what ts known as a railway x iicence is considered excessive by the majority ,of drivers, particularly in comparison with the sum of Is a year charged by the Auckland Harbour Board for taxis plying for hire on the wharves.

Drivers interviewed explained that the railway licences had expired as from Monday of this week, and said that none of the drivers had renewed their licences as.they were waiting for a favourable reply from the Department. If the request for a lower charge was refused they would simply not renew their licences and thus would discontinue waiting at the arrival platform. ■ - .

The operators of private taxi-cabs stated that no matter what reply was received they would continue to pay the fee, as their livelihood depended in a large measure on the amount of work they obtained at the station.