GAOL PREFERRED TO FINES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 75, 21 December 1937, Page 5

GAOL PREFERRED TO FINES

— Press Association.)

Auckland Taxi-Drivers Allege "Dictatorial Persecution" LAWS MADE OVERNIGHT

(By Tclegraph-

AUCKLAND, Last Night. An unexpected sequel to the recent prosecution of severai Auckland taxidrivers, who were charged with *&nducting unlicensed trausport services wheu the tourist ship Strathmore waa in Auckland in Novembei, was provid.ed when a statement was issued by five of the men who have elected to serve prison sentences rather than p£Ey the fines imposed when they appearea before Mr. O. E. Orr-Walker, S.M, The drivers were fined £5 cacn witli costs. In a statement the men say the fines were imposed for "an honest endeavour to earn a livelihood by takiug overseas visitors to see what they wish in God's own country and not, on our part, for a wilful breach of a law made by Order-in-Counci'l overnight. There is not one of us wno can affa?& to pay the fine owing to the persistent dietatorial persecution we have hani meted out to us during the past two years. Yet again there is not one oi us who can alford to tui— aown absolutely legitimate business (for which we have been specialising for years;, beeause our No. 1 Licensing Authority deeides to give the business exciueively to a chosen few. It was also claimed that there was nothing in the Act to say who was to be granted a licence and who was not. The men claim that as owner-drivere they took a personal interest in their passengers. The men received a telegram this morning from the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, stating that he had been advised that 16 vehicles were already licensed under the Traneport Act for tourist traffic and that, if additional cars were required, further licences would be issued. The appeal could not be determined until he had heard submissions from all parties iuterested, and if a formal appeal were lodged with the prescribed fee it would determine the position for future occasions. Mr. A. E. de Balfour, manager of the International Bureau, who was fined £10 with costs for counselling and procuring breaches of the regulations, left for Wellington to-night and will place the matter before the Minister. He stated that a promise had been made that temporary licences would be granted to tfie International Tourist Bureau for all its cars. As it had been explained that the drivers concerned were under contract to the bureau, he did not attach any blame to tfie Minister, to whom he intendtfd to present the facts of the whole affair. Mr. de Balfour added that those oi the men who had asked for time to pay had been granted until January 15, otherwise a man would be liable to the penalty of default 48 hours after tfie im position of the fines, and powers for the exeeution of the. warrant would be contained in the Justice of the Pea'ee Act. The five drivers who signed the statement were L. Davys, F. Laver, H. Cliambers, W. H. G. Woods and V* Sefont.