TAXI SERVICES

Evening Star, Issue 22449, 21 September 1936, Page 8

TAXI SERVICES

NATIONAL INQUIRY OPENED OPERATORS SCRATCHING FOR A LIVING HIGHER FARES A REMEDY [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 21. Tbe national inquiry into the taxi and carrying business for the purpose of securing better organisation, regulation, and control opened to-day. The committee consists of Messrs P. M. Buffer (chairman) and J. Walker. The order of reference is “to make inquiries into the town carrier and taxicab systems in the Dominion with a view to improving their general efficiency to the public, promoting their co-ordination with other forms of transport, and improving the working conditions of the persons engaged, to consider and report what measures, if any, should be adopted for their better organisation, regulation, and control.” The Chairman said that they anticipated the fullest, co-operation and assistance from operators and employees, local bodies, and tbe departments of State affected, and, indeed, all those interested, so that the essential facts might he brought forward _ to enable them to arrive at a conclusion for the purpose of making recommendations for the general improvement of the services affected. Statements or any matter affected would be accepted from interested parties, who might produce evidence in support of such statements. The evidence would be sworn and subject to cross-examination by any of the other parties affected by tbe statements or evidence. The Chairman also said that they would appreciate the fullest co-opera-tion in keeping the inquiry to the shortest period of time without curtailing the rights of any person affected. The first witness was Albert Morey, of the Black and' White Taxi Company, who said that the cost of operat-, ing a cat in his company was a little under 5d a mile. If the fare were increased to 7d or 8d a mile the owner would be able to pay the driver a weekly wage of £4 ss. He suggested that the position could be improved by the issue of special licenses for race days and similar occasions. He mentioned that a proposal to amalgamate with another company had fallen through, and said that it would have reduced expenses 25 per cent. He gave figures to show the savings that would be got from a company controlling 100 cabs or more. There were no “ capitalists ” in the taxi business today. The men who owned cars were scratching for a living, and the position would be relieved if higher fares were fixed. As a result of keen competition men were required to be on tbe stands at the railway, station and wharves many hours before the arrival of trains or boats to get a suitable stand.