TAXI BUSINESS INQUIRY

Evening Star, Issue 22452, 24 September 1936, Page 17

TAXI BUSINESS INQUIRY

CONDITIONS OF COMMISSION DRIVERS [Pee United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 23. Office organisation, as applied to cooperative groups, was outlined by Mr George Higgins, company driver. He expressed the opinion that company organisations were definitely opposed to the amalgamation of taxi businesses. Mr Vemet Mitchell, commission driver with Grey Cabs, gave evince of the conditions under which commission drivers worked. In most cases there were two drivers to a car who worked week about on day and night shift. The men on day shift worked 10 to 12 hours, while the night shift workers drove from 10 to 15 hours. The average driver on commission earned £3 a week. If wages were to be improvd fares would have to go up. Amalgamation was the real solution of the problem. Witness, on behalf of the group of commission drivers, dissociated himself from the statements made by Mr Bartlett on Monday. The Chainrian: Can you say whether the type of business mentioned by Mr Bartlett does exist? “Certainly, so long as there are taxis and hotels it will go on. btill, I know of no drivers who conduct a sly-groo- business—that is, buy and sell liquor for profit.” Mr William Thomas James Morrison, representing the Hutt and Petone Taxi Association, gave evidence that his association favoured a commission basis of payment in preference to wages, which it was hoped would not he forced upon their organisation. If men on 33 1-3 per cent, could not earn £4 10s a week plus tips on commission they should not drive. There was not the same incentive to work under wages that there was under the commission system. The men were able to have what time off they desired, and could still earn the money mentioned.