TAXI LICENSE FOR COBDEN AGAIN REFUSED BY AUTHORITY

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1948, Page 2

TAXI LICENSE FOR COBDEN AGAIN REFUSED BY AUTHORITY

For the fifth- occasion since last year an application by Clement Patrick Carr, 48 Bright Street, Cobden, for a taxi-cab license for Cobden, was refused by the No. 3 Licensing Authority (Mr P. J. Skoglund), at the sitting yesterday. Mr C. J. Rands (Rehabilitation Department), appeared for Carr and Mr A. M. Jamieson opposed the application on behalf of the Greymouth Taxi Association. Carr said in evidence that he had no experience as a taxi-driver, but had been driving a car for 14 years. He had been assured of support from residents of Cobden and the Ratepayers’ Association. He considered, from his observations, that Cobden was not sufficiently served by taxis. There was no taxi in Cobden for 2,000 people. Carr added that he had had the experience of failing to get a taxi from Greymouth, or having to wait a considerable period. To Mr Jamieson, Carr said he was aware of the fact that before a license was granted it had to be shown that it was needed. He admitted that he had made no complaint to the Transport Department regarding his inability to obtain a taxi. Mr Skoglund said the evidence he had so far heard was the usual evidence, and he wanted something stronger to prove the necessity for a license. CITIZENS’ SUPPORT

Samuel John Hayden, chairman of the Cobden Ratepayers’ and Citizens’ Association, said the last meeting had agreed to support Carr’s application. Mr Jamieson: The position is that the Association, without due consideration, decided to support Carr’s application. We considered it for 3d minutes, and we had three complaints. Mr Jamieson said this matter had been continuously before the Authority for some time. The taxi service in Greymouth operated all hours of the day and at night for urgent cases. There were 15 taxies and there had never been complaints from the. Transport Department. He added that there was one car for every 535 persons of the population. Mr Skoglund: Have the taxis experimented by putting a car on the stand at Cobden?—No, but the people of Cobden were' provided for by the taxis in Greymouth. Mr Skoglund said that there were 15 taxis in Greymouth and he thought there were too many. There had been a lack of evidence and it had to be considered that the people who made the recommendations were studving their own convenience. Under the circumstances, he said, Carr’s application would not be granted.