Suva’s One Taxi
p. 104 · Read in the full issue
Proprietors Say
"Too Many”
Suva’s One Taxi To Six People
From Our Own Correspondent.
TAXI proprietors at Suva, who are mostly Indians, say that there are too many taxis in the city area.
They claim that 380 vehicles licensed to ply for hire means that there is a taxi for every six persons living within the city boundaries, and point out that the taxis are competing for business in a com munity which possesses many pri vate cars.
A large taxi fleet is something of a Suva tradition, and the operators did well enough in the days when the Canadian-Austral asian and Matson liners called regularly, and when big tourist cruising ships were frequent visitors.
Revenue was good, and the drivers collected substantial sterling-and dollar tips.
Furthermore, the permanent population, encouraged by a climate which provides terrific downpours at a moment’s notice, was taxi minded until fares started to rise m accordance with the cost of living.
But the taxi proprietors’ main source of grievance is the independent driver who, they say, cuts prices at night, when the buses are not running. They also claim that the improved organisation of bus services has cut into taxi revenue, particularly in places where taxis once had a transport monopoly.
!f The Rev. L. D. Fullerton, w Mrs. Fullerton and their child* returned to Fiji early in Jt after six months’ furlough Australia. While carrying Methodist Church deputation w 1 in New South Wales and Quee: land, Mr. Fullerton was frequer called on to lecture on Fiji.