TAXI-DRIVERS’ WORK

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1073, 10 September 1930, Page 11

TAXI-DRIVERS’ WORK

PROTECTIVE BILL READ IN HOUSE LABOUR LAWS EVADED TUB SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Seeking to do away with the system of leasing taxis to drivers and removing the men from the protection of the Arbitration Court, so that they have to work long hours and become potential dangers to the public anci their passengers through sleepiness, Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Labour —Auckland Suburbs) introduced the Motor-Cabs Bill in the House of today. THE Bill has other objects beside.: * this, namely, to bring taxi-driver* under the law relating to compensation in cases of accident through mutual negligent driving and to mak the lessee-driver entitled to workers’ compensation in case of accident. Mr. Mason explained that when an owner-driver, through negligent driving. had a collision with a tixi, also negligently driven, bat hired to the driver, the owner-driver had 10 claim ''n the clever of the other vehicle, who was not recognised by law. The aimed at remedying this state ot affairs. Then the Bill sought to solve the* problem of the driver-lessee, who did not come imder the provisions of the Arbitration Court and became a great danger to the public through havin g to work long hours to earn sufficient to live on. The Bill aimed at giving the Arbitration Court jurisdiction over* theso men, because at present there was no relation betweensthe firm owning the cabs and the drivers as master and servant. Also the driver of such a vehicle was not entitled to workers* compensation. Mr. Mason understood that the Bill was broadly approved by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. S. G. Smith, and he hoped that when the measure was referred to the Labour Bills Committee he would have the assistance ot the Minister in making it practicable. In fact, Mr. Mason hoped that tha Minister might be able to take the Bill up as a Government measure. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour —Avonf complimented Mr. Mason on bringing in the Bill and said the problem of the drivers was interesting all thoss engaged in the taxi business throughout New Zealand. A method had been devised of undermining the labour laws of Xety Zealand and depriving drivers of all the protection that the labour legislation aimed at. He wished to impress upon the Government the great urgency of such legislation and he trusted every facility would be provided for Mr. Masou placing the Bill on the Statute Book. If the present system were allowed to go on, similar methods would be tried in other trades and the whole of the labour laws defeated in their purpose. He hoped the House would not underestimate the importance of the Bill. The Bill was read a first time and set down for a pro forma second reading tomorrow.