Canadian Roads Expert In N.Z.

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30998, 2 March 1966, Page 12

Canadian Roads Expert In N.Z.

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 28

New Zealand’s general technique for the sealing of road surfaces has now reached an extremely high and competent level, Mr E. B. Wilkins, the design and planning engineer for the Department of Highways, British Columbia, said today.

Mr Wilkins was in Wellington today in the course of a national study and reading discussion tour. He is the guest of the New Zealand Institution of Engineers and is travelling under an award sponsored by Sir William Stevenson.

The main purpose is to exchange views on loading with Ministry of Works and local body authorities. “In particular, the interest centres on pavement studies because a very substantial amount is being spent on this throughout the world,” he said.

Mr Wilkins said that, although road sealing designing had reached a high standard, there was still the need for research. “We have carried out exten-

sive paving across Canada in experiments. The results have gone through electronic computers and certain conclusions reached. Now we are interchanging views on them with New Zealand engineers. Our hope is to supplement our knowledge with the studies that have been carried on here,” he continued. Methods Compared

Mr Wilkins said that, with its environmental differences, New Zealand used a different type of surface-sealing practice to that used in Canada. In New Zealand the whole structure was sprayed and chips added. In Canada an asphaltic base—a plant mix type—was in general use. Apart from being attached to the Government of British Columbia, Mr Wilkins is also a member of the Canadian Good Roads Association, the United States Highway Research Board, and is the author of several important papers on the subject.