TAXIS FOR HIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1922, Page 3

TAXIS FOR HIRE.

PROPRIETORS IN COURT. \ IMPORTANT POINT RAISED. {From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, August 2. A series of uncommon cases concerning taxi proprietors and drivers and their rights to the highway were brought before Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M-, at the Stratford Court to-day, when H. J. Spearman (Stratford County inspector) proceeded against E. May, A. Marrett, G. Gibson, E- Cattley, C. Blackwell and W. Archibald, all of New Plymouth, for plying fox- hire witb.in, the Stratford County without licenses. The cases concerning May and Marrett were taken separately, while those of , Gibson and Cattley and Blackwell and Archibald were bracketed. Mr. A. Coleman appeared for the prosecution and Mr. A. A. Bennett for the defencein the case against May, Mr. Bennett <said the car was hired at New Plymouth for a trip to Hawera on the occasion of a football match during the Hawera Show. He claimed that the car was not plying for hire within the Stratford County, because there was no evidence of any attempt to procure passengers in that locality. If the present defendant was convicted anyone who used a to convey passengers to Hawera oi’ elsewhere would have to obtain a license in every borough and county passed through. The inspector gave evidence that he stopped May near Waipuku on July 8, Questioned. May admitted that he was driving a. taxi and that he had no license effective in the Stratford County. In answer to Mr. Bennett Spearman said May had made no attempt, in the locality in which he was accosted, to pick up any passengers. i R The magistrate said he could not see that defendant had actually plied for hire in the Stratford County. He accordingly dismissed the information, no costs being allowed. The case against Marrett, under similax* circumstances was also dismissed, 16s. witnesses expenses being allowed against the informants.

In view of the decisions in the foregoing cases Mr. Coleman withdrew the informations against Gibson and Cattley, witnesses expenses amounting to 16s again being allowed. On the application of Mr. Coleman the informations against Blackwell and Archibald were adjourned until next Court day, it being stated that the circumstances differed from those in the other cases.