ROADS DAMAGED BY ARMY TRAFFIC

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26886, 12 November 1952, Page 3

ROADS DAMAGED BY ARMY TRAFFIC

REPORT ON SUBMISSIONS TO GOVERNMENT

Damage done to roads in the county by Army traffic was described by the chairman of the Paparua County Council (Mr W. F. McArthur) in a report presented to a meeting of the council on Monday evening.

Mr McArthur said he had met the Minister of Defence (Mr T. L. Macdonald) to discuss Government contributions towards the cost of maintaining the road between Burnham Camp and the West Melton rifle range. The road was used extensively by Army traffic. The Paparua county had been represented by Mr McArthur, Cr. Henderson. the County Clerk (Mr A. Kelly), and the County Engineer (Mr G. A. McFarlane). Representatives of the Malvern county were also present.

In the submissions made to the Minister. said Mr McArthur, it was emphasised that the counties had maintained their section of the road over the years without any contribution from the Government, and that reconstruction carried out in 1948 and 1949 had cost £745. The annual addition of about 350 yards of running course was now essential to maintain a reasonable road surface.

It was submitted that the following annual costs occasioned by Army traffic should be met by way of annual grant: additional grading. £6O; running course. 350 yards at £1 a yard, £350; total, £4lO.

“The Minister was sympathetic, and offered to arrange for the Ministry of Works to inspect the road with county officials, with a view to a solution of the problem,” Mr McArthur said.