Rising costs delay council road work

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32430, 17 October 1970, Page 19

Rising costs delay council road work

It was regrettable that the Government had not found any way of controlling the problem of rising costs, and the Opposition appeared to be even more lacking in inspiration, said the chairman (Mr E. R. Radcliffe) at the annual meeting of the Mount Herbert County Council yesterday.

Mr Radcliffe said that rapidly escalating costs had made it impossible for the council to complete planned road works at Purau this year. The cost was such that the work would have to be paid for over two years. The unfortunate lesson, he said, was that the estimates had to be drastically amended. He had been told by the Ministry of Works that the annual increase in roading costs was 4| per cent. The City Council worked on 5 per cent, but the county council’s consulting engineers said the increase was nearer 10 per cent

The result in one instance was that road work the council estnnated would cost $20,000 would now cost $27,000, said Mr Radcliffe. This, for a small local body, strained the finances and showed that estimates of ex-

penditure would have to be reviewed more frequently. “It would be disastrous for the council if the National Roads Board fails to keep pace with roading costs,” he said. “It is of the utmost urgency that the Government take steps to control the cost spiral.” After voicing opposition to any increase in petrol tax, Mr Radcliffe said it would indicate a real lack of ability on the part of the Government if the motorist was again singled out. While the council had made satisfactory progress last year, it was a shock to consider roading work tenders at last month’s meeting. “The financial state of the nation should not only be sound, as we are told by the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon), but it should appear to be sound to the man in the street,” said Mr Radcliffe. “He must believe this if he is to bring about the higher production the country needs.” Mr Radcliffe was re-elected chairman, with Cr R. F. G. Gardiner as deputy chairman.