Cement’s Role In Reading Problems

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30530, 27 August 1964, Page 10

Cement’s Role In Reading Problems

The Minister of Works (Mr Allen) told the New Zealand Cement Stabilisation Symposium in Christchurch that he was anxious to know whether cement stabilisation of soil was the answer to New Zealand’s many and varied roading problems, and if it was better than bituminous or tar stabilisation.

As chairman of the National Roads Board and Minister of Works he was anxious to know the answer to those and many other questions. New Zealand’s vehicle population would be 1,070,000 by the end of the year, and by 1969 it eould be expected to be 1,380,000. In 26 years there would be more than 2,000,000 vehicles on the roads.

Mr Allen said the reading men at the symposium would realise the implication, and would understand him when he said New Zealand must keep pace with the increase of traffic. Any hesitancy or procrastination with the loading programme could mean utter chaos, and foe was determined to see. that that did not happen. “Satisfy me that cement stabilisation will reduce our road maintenance costs,” challenged the Minister; “prove its stability and endurance; demonstrate its versatility and show the machinery required for speedy application. In short, convince me that cement stabilisation is the answer to our reading problems—or even that it merits a place in that programme—and then I can assure all concerned with this propect that they will be fully occupied over the next few years.

“I feel it is only fair to say that the technique of cement stabilisation has passed from the experimental stage and that in certain areas with poor-class material it has been used with confidence.

“No doubt you are aware that the National Roads Board, in conjunction With Canterbury University and the Ministry of Works, is carrying out full-scale testing on the tunnel road. Here, various types of pavements have been laid, including cement-treated base course and soil cement, for comparison of behaviour under ordinary traffic. I am looking forward with keen interest to the result of these tests.

“Already, many miles of paving have been put. down in New Zealand and most of it at this moment appears satisfactory. The first work of this type carried out by the Ministry of Works was on the Invercargill-Bluff highway.” . Mr Allen said it had been in use for four years and had proved quite satisfactory. In addition to work carried out by the Ministry of Works, the National Roads Board supported local bodies in carrying out trials in cement stabilisation.