TRADING IN LIQUOR

Evening Star, Issue 22451, 23 September 1936, Page 8

TRADING IN LIQUOR

TAXI DRIVER’S STATEMENTS RESENTED BY SERVICE PROPRIETORS [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 23. A protest against certain statement* regarding the sale of whisky by taxi drivers was made by Mr Stobart, on behalf of taxi owners, at the taxi and carrying inquiry to-day. The owners in Wellington, he said, dissociated themselves from the statement by the witness Bartlett. They would not tolerate such business. The Wellington taxi owners prided themselves on being straight and honest in their dealings, and he asked that their protest be noted.

The Chairman said that there ap-i peared to be some misunderstanding. Bartlett’s evidence was given on oath, and there was an opportunity to crossexamine him. The committee’s impression was that Bartlett wished to draw; attention to the fact that, owing to the chaotic conditions existing in tho industry, men were forced sometime* to undertake the jobs he mentioned. The Chairman said that he thought that too much had been made of that side of the business. Bartlett merely described the legitimate and illegimate side of the business. Mr Stobart also said that it was the opinion of many owners that a _ taxi owner should sit with the committee. The Chairman: That is a matter foe the Government.

During the subsequent proceedings, the Chairman mentioned that the committee proposed issuing a questionnaire containing three points—one for consideration by the companies, one for owner-drivers, and one for drivers on commission.