MOTOR CAR LICENSES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 12 February 1913, Page 4

MOTOR CAR LICENSES

DISCUSSION AT BOROUGH COUNCIL. A deputation consisting of Messrs G. C. Suminercll, J. B. Moodie, o.' C. Cooper, I). McGregor and J). Caselberg, from the Mastorton A. and P. Association, waited on tho Masterton Borough Council last evening in reference to the issue of taxi-cab and motor car licenses for ISth f.nd 19th insts, oil tho occasion of the Suhvay show. Tho Mayor said the Council would be pleased to hear the deputation, but at tho •same time he expressed surprise at the attitude taken by the A. and P. Association in reference to the communication forwarded by the Council, and regretted that tho question was taken up in a hostile n.anner. The Council was not in any way bound to communicate with tho Association in the matter, and had done so in order to hear the opinion of its members, so that the be-«t solution might be arrived at. ■ . The Council would bo pleased to bear tho opinion of members cf tho deputation, hut he would like it made plain that the Council had passed no resolution on the matter, which was still open fpr decision.

Mr G. C. Summerell said he Mas pleased to hear what the Mayor had said. The matter wa.s 'considered by tho committee cf the A. and P. Association. Audi that body wa.s of the' opinion that it was placed in a rather awkward position in being asked to approve of the resolution passed by the Council, but since"tho Mayor had explained that tho letter forwarded to the Association was misunderstood, a different complexion - was put on tho .matter. After giving the question close consideration, the committee wa"; sure t-iintf it would be a mistake to limit the number of oars plying for hire on tho days of tho show. Tt might bo safely computed that approximately 3000 people would depot'd for conveyance to and from tho grounds on taxi-cabs, cars niul drags. He was sure that tho twenty or so cars for hire in iMast-erton would not lie able to cope with this number, especially after tho show, when large crowds wished to return practically at tho same time. There was also the danger of excessive driving, and this, lie thought, would likely to bo obviated if there wa.s a greater number of cars. etc. Mr (T). said the Association wished to see as large a number of people present at the show as possible, and if the 'number of auces wa.s limited, this would affect the attendance, as it would prevent drags coming from Greytown and Carterton, which the, Association was in tho habit of subsidising, to enable passengers to be. carried to Sol way at Gd each. Mr 'McGregor said that the show was the .event of the year as far as the country people were concerned, and it was the aim of the Association to get as many people to the grounds as possible. In the past there had not been sufficient conveyances, m.'.ny people having to walk home after the show, and he was sure that tho Council would not _ wish to limit the '.number of cars plying for hire. He did not think that tne local tsr.xidrivers would suffer. Mr O. 0. Cooper said that, the Association did- not wish to show any antagonism to the local taxi-drivers, and had always done the utmost to benefit local industry. He did not consider that it would he to tho interests of the town to limit the number of cars plying For hire. In reference to the speed limit, he would like to say that the Association was completely in accord with 1 the views of the Council, and the Sergeant of the-Police had been already asked to do as" much as possible to keep the speed within the limit. Mr J. B. Moodie did not think that the Council wished to. create a monopoly in the matter of motor licenses. He endorsed the remarks cf soenkers and quite agreed that a limit should be nut to the speed at which cars travelled to and from the show. He considered that the more cars plying for hire the less would lie the danger from excessive speed. They had fine showgrounds, and he 'would not like visitors to complain of the facilities for travelling backwards and forwards! The Mayor said that the Council was not in a position to refuse licenses to suitable applicants, as provision wa,s made in-the borough by-laws for temporary licenses. Tie was pleased that the matter had been cleared up, as the letter-forwarded to the A. and P. Association was not- intended to infer that the Council had passed a resolution on tho matter. It was finally decided that the local taxi-proprietors be informed that the Council i.« not empowered to refuse licenses to outside, applicants.