TAXI SERVICES

Evening Star, Issue 22464, 8 October 1936, Page 8

TAXI SERVICES

COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY INCREASED FARES OPPOSED TENDENCY OF COMMISSION DRIVERS TO SPEED The Committee of Inquiry set up by tho Government to investigate the conduct of the taxi and town carriers’ businesses throughout New Zealand resumed sitting in the. Council Chamber of tho Town Hall this morning. The members of tho committee are'Messrs P. M. Butler (Wellington), chairman, James Walker (Masterton), and H. B. Smith (Transport Department, Wellington). ACCOUNTANT’S EVIDENCE. Yesterday afternoon evidence was given by Mr E. R. Grace, an accountant, who said that until recently he was auditor of the Silver Fern Company. Mr Steel was, in his line of work, one of tho best business men witness had ever met. Mr Grace submitted figures with respect to the operations of the Silver Fern Company. The policy of the company had been to keep fares down in order to maintain or increase turnover. The company met the purposes of those likely_ to use the cars with the object of getting the best out of its business. Any increase in the existing fares would reduce the number of users. If users were reduced the number of cars would be reduced, and consequently if the number of cars was reduced the number of drivers must be reduced. In his opinion increased fare? would eventually put a number of companies out of operation. Ho estimated that Silver Fern drivers drove 95 miles daily, and were actually driving five hours a day. The average earnings were about £5. The important thing in a taxi business was to keep the wheels moving, if possible, 24 hours of the day. Eight or 10 years ago taxis were a luxury, and since then companies had succeeded, the drivers had had a fair living, and the public had had good facilities. In addition the owner of tho capital had had a good return for his risk. H© held the opinion that if it had not been for cheap fares the Silver Fern Company would not be in business to-day. In answer to the chairman, Mr Grace said that he agreed with the policy of paying by commission, not for the purpose of driving men, but because it seemed fair to him. The _ owner risked his cars and capital, and if there was no business ho suffered. Similarly tho driver risked his time, and if there was no business he also suffered. He would not favour wages, but if wages were made compulsory he did not see why drivers should not be paid at least £4 12s 6d a week. The wheels could be kept moving on wages as well as on commission provided that the fares were sufficiently attractive.

UNIFIED CONTROL SUGGESTED. Mr W. O. Kcmpthorne, now of Oniakau, but until a week ago a taxi proprietor in Dunedin, submitted two lengthy written statements, in which he outlined with considerable detail his views on the industry. He favoured an amalgamation of taxi services and town deliveries under one form of unified control. He advocated some form of public control, preferably by the Hailways Department, which, he stated, had the necessary organisation both m the cities and country towns. To place taxis and deliveries under its control would merely be to extend its present operations. He pointed out the heavy overhead costs and unnecessary running involved in the industry as it was at present constituted. _ He expressed the opinion that taxi services could be made to pay at a charge of sixpence per mile under unified conAs Mr Kempthorne had had 17 years’ experience as a taxi proprietor, he was questioned at length with respect to the history of the industry m Dunedin. He said that the only companies which went out of existence were the original Red Band, the original Gold Band, and the original Gold Star. He knew of from 12 to 20 owner-drivers who had ceased to operate. He expressed the opinion that there were twice as many as there should be, the chief reason being the speed of the modern car. POLICE SERGEANT’S OPINIONS. The first witness this morning was Sergeant P. Boulton. The Chairman: Do you find in your official capacity that there is a tendency among taxi drivers to speed? Witness: Yes. _ In your opinion what is the urge tor this speeding?—My opinion is .that the fact of a great many drivers being paid on commission encourages them to do as many jobs as possible. That is very noticeable whenever there are big functions during an evening, such as balls and dances. . In further reply to the chairman, witness said there was not such a tendency to speed when the wages system was in operation. He would say that owner-drivers worked 6 or 12 hours a day, wages drivers up to 84 hours a week, and commission drivers from 63 to 100 hours a week. There had been 23 accidents < during the past two years in which taxi drivers were involved, said Sergeant Boulton. One of those accidents resulted fatally. Most of those accidents occurred at intersections, from which it might be inferred that there was speeding. From his inquiries insobriety played no part in those accidents. He was unable to say whether fatigue on the part of any of the drivers bad any bearing. More accidents occurred to drivers on commission than to other classes of drivers, said the witness. Of the 23 accidents he had quoted for two years only one concerned an owner-driver, eight concerned wages drivers, and 14 concerned commission drivers. The Chairman mentioned that figures in the possession of the committee showed there were more owner-drivers than drivers on a commission basis. Sergeant Boulton went on to say that he considered drivers on commission worked far too long hours. He thought nine hours a day, with one hour off for a meal, was sufficient. Ho would suggest that the registration of taxis and the licensing of drivers should bo in the hands of one body, which might be centralised for New Zealand. In the matter of catching speedsters, said the sergeant, he thought the practice of having a fast car to chase and catch them was dangerous. He considered police traps set right throughout New Zealand at different points would be more effective and safer. Mr 0. L. Stevens; From the point of view of the taxi drivers on the road, would not the matter of control be bettor in the bands of the police? Witness; 1 should say so.

In answer to other questions witness said lie understood that the fines imposed in eases brought by the traffic inspectors were paid into the funds of the City Council. He was of the opinion that the detecting of high speeds

should be in the hands of a specially, trained body of police throughout New; Zealand.

They would be answerable to the Crown, and not to a local authority?— Yes. Sergeant Boulton also stated that he was of the opinion that no man was fit to drive a motor vehicle until he was over 21 years of age. FURTHER EVIDENCE. The next witness was' James S. Phillips, a director of Silver Band Taxis and an owner driver, who said that while working as a driver on commission for Silver Fern Taxis his average earnings over a period of 12 months were £5 8s 6d a week. The average hours he was on duty were 146 to 160 a fortnight. Mr Borland: Have you ever known of a commission driver cutting ins own commission in order to get a job? Witness: Certainly. . Is it quite a common practice?—l would not say it was a common practice, but it has been done. POSSIBILITY OF AGREEMENT. The Chairman suggested that it should be possible for the various interests represented to come together, and arrive at a tentative working arrangement until 'the findings of th« committee cam© before th© GovernThose present expressed their willingness to meet ana endeavour to arrive at an agreement. _ Several speakers pointed 9UC that there was the difficulty of the limitation of the hours of owner-drivers. It was decided after further discussion that a meeting of owner-driver* should be called for to-night _ and should appoint representatives to attend a meeting of operators to be held at 7.30 to-morrow night with the me* of reaching an agreement as to hour* and wages. „ . _ . . The Town Clerk (Mr G. A. Lewin) agreed to act as chairman of the meeting to-morrow night. . After an adjournment the Cnairman said it had been decided to re *f r ,,*° . e meeting to-morrow night the following points;—(l) Wages and working conditions; (2) licensing; (3) stands; (4) Promotion of a working agreement pending the findings of the Committee of Inquiry; (5) inspection. The Chairman said during the emirs* of further discussion that the opinion of the committee was definitely that there should be no increase in the licenses in Dunedin at the moment from the time the committee sat here. An increase would lead to further price-cutting and make the taxi business not worth while at all Other evidence was given by .J. Hodee (Kiwi Taxis), Norman James Darling (driver on commission, Km. Ora Taxis), Leslie Perry (proprietor of the Octagon Taxis), H. M. Maekay (company director), and Harry Ikrland (taxi director of South t'-nd Tnxis). The committee adjourned till te-mor-row morning.