THE TAXI INQUIRY

Evening Star, Issue 22458, 1 October 1936, Page 18

THE TAXI INQUIRY

FURTHER EVIDENCE BY OWNER AND DRIVERS

fPER United Press Association.]

CHRISTCHUBCH, September 30

Tlio Committee of Inquiry into the taxi-cab industry sat in the afternoon. Continuing his allegations against the City Council of unfairness, Mr C. S. Trillo (proprietor of Gold Band taxis) said that several of the city bylaws had been framed solely against him. “It is well known in the taxi business,” he said, “ that I am being robbed of hundreds of pounds a year, and that is why I openly challenge Mr Parlauo or even the drivers themselves to prove their actual earnings.” Mr Trillo said that when he started business in Christchurch taxi drivers were charging ,3s 6d for the first mile. Ho started with low fares in July, 1929, and in five months and a-half to the end of the year ho made a net profit of £1.531. In answer to a question Mr Trillo said be could not pay £ I or £4 10s a week to drivers at the present faros. He agreed that Christchurch was the worst place in New Zealand for taxis. Mr Parlane: Ho you recall 37 of your drivers being prosecuted for paying no wages tax and saying that they would do better on relief, as their wages were less than 30s a week. Mr Trillo: I will not admit that those wages were right, because tampering with speedometers had been going on for some time. The chairman asked Mr Parian© if the employees’ organisation was taking any stops to try to get an award. Mr Parlane replied that no steps were being taken at present, as it was very desirable that legislation should be passed making the share system illegal. Mi- George Francis Scott, a driver for Rink Taxis, said low wages, lowfares, and non-payment for overtime were the reasons for the existing troubles. He was sure the Gold Band drivers did not earn their salt. Any proprietor who provided cars at 6d“ a mile could do so only at the expense of the drivers. There was too much uncertainty about commission work, and drivers stayed on the stands too long hoping to make more money. He had seen drivers sleep in their cars at the railway station to keep their places on the rank when the boat train came in. Mr Archie Harold Finch, ownerdriver of the Blue Star organisation, declared that’ the cause of all the" trouble in the taxi business was the share system. When the Gold Band drivers wore making the large sums referred to they had only a few cars on the road and the public would use no others. They drove out every firm paying wages except the Rink Taxis. When the fleet was built up to about 50. the drivers’ takings were greatly reduced and some drivers had had to apply to the Coal and Blanket Fund for assistance. He contended that there were too many taxis in Christchurch, and ho suggested that the transfer of the business be prohibited until the number could be brought down to 120. Three Gold Band drivers were called at the request of the chairman. One, an office driver, said his commission never amounted to very much. Last week he received 30s to 355, and the week before £2 to £2 ss. His average daily hours were 10 or 11, and he often worked seven days a week. Another driver said he worked every night for an average return of between £2 and £3. . Another driver said his average earnings were about 35s weekly and his average hours were 13 or 14 a day for six days a week.