frustrated and bitter.

Angry because he believes he is losing out unfairly to rival operators at the airport.

Frustrated because Government appears to him unwilling to solve the problem.

And bitter because he feels his industry is being tarred by price-gouging allegations.

Mr. Valasse is an independent taxi driver, and, like many family men, struggles to make ends meet each week.

Much of his rage is aimed at the handful of Civil Air Terminal dispatch companies.

These businesses are licensed to lay on pre-arranged transport for visitors.

Under the license, "dispatchers'' with signs displaying the firm's name meet customers in the arrivals hall.

But to Mr. Valasse it amounts to a license to steal.

He accuses his rivals of grabbing much more than just their pre-arranged custom.

And he claims independent cabbies -- forbidden to solicit for trade in the arrivals hall -- are suffering.

"We are having business stolen from us. We are the ones being ripped off,'' he exclaims.

"The dispatchers approach arriving visitors, ask which hotel they are staying at, and then offer to drive them there.'' Mr. Valasse says dispatch firms -- which own buses and have special transport deals with some taxi drivers -- prove far more expensive for tourists.

Independent cabbies, for example, would charge $18, including luggage, for four people travelling between the airport and the Hamilton Princess.

Dispatch firms, however, would charge $15 a head for the same journey, claims Mr. Valasse.

He adds the meters of independent taxi drivers are strictly regulated, making it difficult to bump charges up.

"I get really annoyed when I hear claims about tourists being ripped off by taxi drivers,'' he says.

"Those allegations are unfair, and are entirely misleading. They give tourists the wrong impression.

"We as taxi drivers are ambassadors for the country, and it's terrible we should be attacked in this way.'' Mr. Valasse wants Government to set up a system of independent, central airport "dispatchers''.

These could direct tourists to dispatch firms, without unfairly soliciting trade, he claims.

He adds ruefully, however: "Government hasn't taken up the idea.''