GHASTLY PRACTICE ALLEGED

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1931, Page 2

GHASTLY PRACTICE ALLEGED

. ; GIRLS LURED AWAY. ' AN AUCKLAND DISCUSSION. AUCKLAND, May 4. •‘When gniy;.< allegations t ;i' leading girls astray are m ! >dti against two or three taxi drivers, there, is.a slur cast upon the whole of the taxi service in Auckland,” said Mr A, R. H. Wright, secretary of the Auckland Transport and Touring Association of New Zealand,’ in referring to tile report of Police Court cases in which it was stated that some taxi in the city 1 1 n,[ lured girls into an immoral life.

“Wc know of two or three drivers who are. .carrying on .this, ghastly practice, hut it is a very difficult matter to catch them,” said Air Wright. “Even if they were caught and charged in the Police Court, it would probably bo a most difficult matter to convict them on the evidence of girls of this type. We are anxious that in every case where a gir] is chnr ,T pd before the Court and it is alleged that she has been introduced to men by a taxi-driver, the name of the driver be published.”

SOURCES OF REVENUE

Last February, said Mr Wright, lie headed a deputation from his association to the Legal and By-laws Committee of the City Council, and at that time, among other things, it was mentioned that, owing to fact that there is no limitation of the number of taxis in Auckland, some of the drivers were compelled to seek other avenues of revenue. Two or three had unfortunately adopted this nefarious practice. “Major Gordon is reported as having said that she did not think the girls were to blame,” continued AD Wright. “It seems very hard to believe that any man would he able to persuade a girl to go to a Chinese garden for the purpose alleged, entirely against hei will. Personally, I am opposed to the suppression of the names of girls who are charged, for I believe that the publication of names would act as a deterrent, ancl fear of publicity would prevent other girls from going the wrong way. The names of the taxidrivers concerned should ho published, nip] my association would he pleased if Major Gordon would supply the names of these or other drivers to the association. Then the necessary action for th« cancellation of their licenses would he taken.

“WEEDING OUT.” “The council of the Auckland i ransport and Touring Association, which ha? n. membership of 264 drivers, purposes' to nporoach the City Council with an application to have all taxicab licenses issued in the city submitted to the association for approval before being finalised by the Police Department- and the City Council,

said Air Wright-. “At the shne time, the association will 'that no

licenses he granted 'to men nuclei - a

certain age, probably twenty-three. If. this request is'granted it ik pVoposqdJ to go cnrefulh through the list of applications, and ‘-‘weed out’ drivels who are not a -credit to the service! ' “Wv realise that‘taxis are an important factor in public transport'. AVe are not in the same category as '(.lietramway man, the railway limn, ol‘ the bus driver in regard to ‘ passenger i carrying. .Wo . are.- the. masters of our own vehicles who carry the individual fare, ami we realise bow important it is to have men of unblemished character in .the service. Therefore, •we are eager that any men who are sus- ] netted of carrying, on the traffic that,, has been suggested should be refused a renewal of their license for the coni-y ing year.” ■■ > : I