TAXI CAB INQUIRY

Evening Star, Issue 22457, 30 September 1936, Page 6

TAXI CAB INQUIRY

emission driving CONDITIONS A BEGGARLY LIVING MANIPULATION OF SPEEDOMETERS ALLEGED [Pee United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, September 29. An allegation that he had been defrauded of hundreds of pounds a year by drivers who manipulated the speedometers was made by Mr C. S. Trillo, proprietor of the Gold Band Taxis, at the Committee of inquiry sitting to-day.' Air Trillo made the allegation when ho was cross-examining a witness, George Bone, a former employee, who had been giving evidence about the conditions under which drivers on commission worked. Bone said that when Gold Band Taxis increased their fleet some years ago tho amount that drivers could earn had been brought down so that it afforded only the barest living. This led to a tampering with speedometers, driving in reverse, and winding the speedometer with the car jacked up. Air Trillo then said that this speedometer manipulation business was a serious matter. Drivers, he alleged, were getting away with, hundreds of pounds a year. Bone repeated his former statement that in Trillo’s employ drivers could not earn more than 85s a week, and many earned less. If they could earn more they would not go on relief work. Witnesses gave evidence of drivers making a practice of going to sleep in tlieir oars.

Air Trillo said he knew one ownerdriver who actually kept his pyjamas in his car, and put them on before going to sleep. This man also shaved in his car and cooked in his car. Bone said he had seen Gold Band drivers curled up in their cars under rugs, sound asleep. He had seen drivers asleep on the floor of Air Trillo’s garage, with their cars on the stand and unattended. ,