PAVING OF HIGHWAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 103, 5 May 1926, Page 14

PAVING OF HIGHWAYS.

HOT-MIX OR CONCRETE? DISCUSSION BY RATEPAYERS. ONE TREE HILL'S POLICY. That time-tarnished question, the best system of road paving, was lengthily discussed at the annual meeting of the One i Tree Hill ratepayers last evening. j "I refuse to believe that if the board had substituted concrete for the hotmix system in the loan proposals, the loan would have been sanctioned," said Mr. E. G. Clark, chairman of the board. The annual report, in making reference ! to the rejection of the board's recent j road improvement loan proposals, said: — "The board and its engineer went to | an enormous amount of trouble in i obtaining information from the very best I experts in road paving, not only in New Zealand, but also from Great Britain, the United States, India, Straits Settlements, Australia and other parts of the world. It was only after the most careful consideration that asphaltic concrete was adopted; nor has the board any reason for changing its views since November, when the loan proposals were rejected at the poll. "Special mention is made of this fact because when the poll was taken a very great deal of adverse criticism was made, mainly by people who knew very little about road paving, but -who were prompted to level such criticism by others who were undoubtedly biassed in the interests of other clasEes of roadpaving. The board itself feels at has only done its duty to the ratepayers in placing the proposals before them openly, and in a fair and intelligent manner. It feels it has no' reason to reproach itself because the proposals were rejected, but rather to take it as an indication that One Tree Hill ratepayers consider the present time is not an opportune one to undertake works which must immediately enhance the progress and prosperity of the district." Speaking of the hot-mix system in the loan proposals, Mr. Clark eaid that the board contended that the hot-mix system it advocated was the best scheme. He thought that the concrete roads of Auckland would yet have to get a wearing surface of .hot-mix. The board did not desire to force asphaltic concrete upon the ratepayers if they did not want it. • ' ' ■ Continuing, Mr. Clark referred to Eoeebank Road, Avondale, which had been laid down on the same system aa advocated by the board. He thought that a visit of • inspection by ratepayers would be very profitable. . In the course of a lengthy discussion i which followed, it was plain that the ratepayers held widely different views as to the merits of the rival paving systems.. "If the board has committed an error of judgment," remarked Mr. Clark, "I am quite prepared to hear my share of the blame. As far as the Great South Road is concerned I say definitely that, had a concrete roading scheme been submitted to the ratepayers last November, it would have been turned down. If returned at the election to-morrow I assure you that the board will put a. concrete paving proposal for the Great South Eoad before the ratepayers."