ARMY TRAFFIC

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 41, 16 August 1941, Page 11

ARMY TRAFFIC

■ ■ ■<» -•' DAMAGE TO ROADS WHOSE LIABILITY? "Difficulties in road maintenance are aggravated very considerably by the increased burden of heavy traffic above the normal, despite benzine restrictions, occasioned by the continual use made of the roads by the various types- of Army vehicles in the course of training exercises," reported the county overseer to the Hutt County Council. "No road is immune from the traffic, and it is going on continuously in all weather conditions. Quite apart from' the use of the road surfaces themselves, watertables and culverts are prevented from functioning through trucks and Bren gun carriers getting into watertables through passing or letting others pass on the narrow roads, and leaving scrub, etc.. that »has been used for Camouflage purposes lying in the watertables and culverts." Councillor L. Blackley said that the time had arrived when they would have to ask the Government to assist them. They received insufficient for country roads to enable them to keep the roads in repair under such conditions. - ' "A DREADFUL CONDITION." "The roads are in a dreadful condition and are rapidly getting worse," said the chairman, Mr. R. L. Button. "We ought to try to get some redress." Protest to the Public Works Department, it was suggested, would only h-ing a stereotyped reply, and the Defence authorities would be too busy to do anything in the matter. It was decided, therefore, that councillors should wait upon the Acting Prime Minister as a deputation.