AUCKLAND TAXIS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 180, 1 July 1937, Page 7

AUCKLAND TAXIS

PROTEST TO CITY COUNCIL. INCREASE IN LICENSES. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 30. Taxi interests in Auckland decided at a joint meeting of the Atta and Checker taxi companies to protest against the decision of the Auckland City Council to grant licenses to increase the city’s fleet to 300 cars. At present there are 286 ears on the toad, and it is proposed to grant 14 additional licenses. The existing by-law fixes the number of licenses at 266. A statement issued after the meeting points ont that taxi men are alarmed at the council’s departure from a recognised principle of sound taxi administration in extending licenses beyond the accepted economic number. The result of such action is expected to increase the difficulties existing under the present fare schedule. Moreover. the decision is held to he strongly opposed to the declared policy of the council to improve workers’ conditions. Taxi men claim that the proposal is unjustifiable and has been taken without consideration being given to the true position of the taxi industry. They further protest that the council acted without full consultation with the parties concerned, who assert that they could have enlightened tile council on the fallacy of its proposal to solve taxi problems believed by the council to exist by the addition of licenses. j “An increase in the number of cabs, ’ the statement explains, “will menu that drivers of the now taxi-cabs will lie seriously interfering with the work of the present men. At present, except at peak periods, there is shortage of work and extra cabs will involve burner working hours for all concerned. r lhe result, therefore, will he equivalent to a cut in taxi-drivers’ wages, and the council, without knowledge or means of correctly assessing the effect .of its action, is clearly adopting an ill-con-sidered and un-Laboui like attitude.” SOME BLACKLIST STATION. All but a few taxi drivers in Auckland are blacklisting the arrival platform of the Auckland railway station, contending that the special annual license fee of £1 which entitles, them to await the arrival of trains is excessive. A few drivers, mostly independent owners, have renewed their licenses, which expired on May 31, hut the others express a determination to refrain until a reduction of the charge is made.