FROM SHOVEL TO SHOVEL

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 141, 16 June 1932, Page 10

FROM SHOVEL TO SHOVEL

The practice of shifting earth in successive stages from shovel to shovel (representing the maximum of manual labour I and the minimum of machinery -and, ma-, ' terial) has been iv evidence on various -relief works, but a correspondent ("Waste | Not, Want Not") seems to have discovered the highest expression this lat Hataitai Recreation Reserve works:— "At the foot, of the 30 feet . bank face, caused by the deposit of the excavated clay, etc., there is a huge quantity of black soil, originally skimmed ■ from the surface of the ground-which was to be excavated, and which is intended for top soiling the surface of the area "when levelled. This dump contains, roughly, 1200 cubic yards, or more, of soil. A start was made last week to transfer this soil to the top of the bank, and instead of using a lorry to effect this purpose, those controlling this job have had men cut ..ledges in the bank, about 20 feet long by 3 feet deep and 3 feet high. Ten ledges have been excavated, and no less than twenty-two men were engaged on the wasteful work of- raising this top1 soil with shovels, from ledge to ledgo, two me>i on each ledge. Taking an average sum bf ten shillings per day being | paid to these men,-the daily'cost would amount.to £11; "; The total effort of the twenty-two men results in. the;removal:6f about fiv£ cubic yards per day/ I£ 1200 cubic yards has to be transferred it will take over nine months to.complete, at.the. present rate, and will cost' over £2500. Properly handled, , the whole lot could be shifted for less than £100. •• .. . J-no-tice that the Mayor in his statement'says this job has already cost £30,000. .■ By the present methods it will be -nearer £40,000 before it is finished." '"