CARTAGE TO WAIPORI

Evening Star, Issue 19892, 14 June 1928, Page 4

CARTAGE TO WAIPORI

1 ADDITIONAL FACILITIES URGED COUNCIL’S DELIBERATIONS The matter of the transport_ of materials to Waipori _waf> the subject of discussion at last night’s meeting of the City Council, when, with a view to expediting the works at Waipori, the E.P. and L. Committee urged that the existing facilities of private contractors be augmented by the provision of additional plant suitable for hauling over the unformed roads and tracks at Waipori. The committee recommended for the purpose the ordering of five rigid six-wheeled truck chassis and three trailers, but after considerable argument the clause was referred hack to tho committee. The danse of the report in relation to Waipori transport stated “ In view of the need for'expediting tho numerous works at Waipori if the programme of development is to be adhered to, tho question of ensuring adequate arrangements for transporting materials has been carefully investigated, It is clear that special provision will have to be made to cope with tho haulage of tho very large quantity of materials, comprising pipes, cement, gravel, plant, and stores, which will be concentrated on the roads leading to Waipori and the dam during the present year. The essential point is to ensure, with the least possibility of failure, that there will bo adequate plant of a suitable type available at tho proper times for despatching materials over all routes, including the Gorge road._ To meet that end tho committee considers it essential that the council take steps to augment the existing facilities of contractors by itself providing additional plant that will be suitable for hauling oyer the unformed roads and tracks leading to the dam, tunnel, and other points. Detailed particulars have _ been obtained and tests carried out in England (on behalf of tho department) of sixwheeled motor trucks which have been specially designed for the conditions that will bo met with on the haulage routes_ to and at Waipori, and your committee now recommends that authority be granted to cable an order to London for tho supply of five rigid six-wheel truck chassis ami three trailer chassis, the purchasing agent to first invito quotations from manufacturers. Tho estimated cost of tho plant is £7,000. The conr-^—g- desires to make it clear that the proposal does not involve any departure from tho decision of council that wherever possible work is to be done by contract. The object is to ensure that the works at Waipori shall not he delayed ny n lack of sufficient haulage plant, and the council can decide in due caur.se whether to let the actual haulage by contract, with trucks on biro to contractors, or in such other manner as it may deem advisable.”

In moving tho adoption of the report, Cr Shacklock. said that he had urged the necessity of pushing on tho work in connection with the future programme of works at Waipon. The position at the present time was just as urgent as, or more urgent than, it had ever been. The city engineer reported on tho necessity ter having suitable vehicles for carrying materials to tho vicinity of the works. Quite exclusive of any work for which lenders would bo called, was a consider able amount of work in connection with the transportation to be done by the council and thn department which could not be tendered for. The engineer had come to the conclusion that vehicles did not exist here suitable for the work. Some cartage contractors claimed that they could do th«* work, hut many times when the council had called for tenders for cartage to Wnipori really no tenders from town carters had been received. Where county roads were traversed the council would have to recompense tho county, owing to the extraordinary nature of the work that was being carried out. In every way he thought the vehicles were suitable for the work outlined. In view of the - necessity for expediting the works at Waipori it became imperative to see that 1 he transport of materials was carried out according to schedule, and the engineer had come to the conclusion that without tho aid of these vehicles it would not be certain that this would ho done. The engineer had an idea that contractors might bo allowed the use of these vehicles for some term or the other, and their presence should encourage tenders more than if tho contractors felt they were unable to have the use of suitable vehicles for the work. If the worst came to the worst the! council would be in a position to undertake the cartage of material itself. It should bo pointed out that this did not contravene the resolution ol the council that work, where possible, should he done by contract. Apart from the work outlined there would bo ample work which might be done hv contractors if suitable vehicles could be obtained. Cr Douglas seconded the adoption of the report. Cr Clark said that a deputation of carters had mads an assertion that they were willing to undertake cartage. They maintained that they had sufficient vehicles, and were quite prepared for one of their members to undertake the contract. They would also give ah undertaking to carry it out in time. The engineer had stated that he did not consider it possible for local contractors to do the work, but the speaker understood from the local representatives that the engineer had taken no steps to ascertain whether they could do tho work or not. He moved as an amendment that the clause in question be referred back to the committee with a view to ascertaining whether satisfactory arrangements for transport could not be made with local carriers, and that the committee should report on the matter within six day. He did not wish to delay the work,

but ho was prepared to give extra time himself in order that the report of the committee might bo considered. The cost of £7,000 for the purchase of vehicles would go a long way towards paying the cost of cartage. Cr Hayward seconded the amendment, and said that he had been informed by some big linns that if they 'were given the opportunity they would be.quite capable of carrying out this work. Cr Larnach: “Is there any guarantee?” Cr Black said that as far as the E.P. and L. Committee was concerned there always seemed to be tremendous urgency in its recommendations. If the E.P. and L. Committee wished to be popular with the public and with the council it would have to stop its star chamber methods and lay its cards upon the table, so that the council, would be assured of getting all the facts about the Mahinerangi Dam. In the report there was not a word about the engineering difficulties. Cr Shaddock: “Cr Black is talking about something that is not before the council.” Cr Black: “Arc these trucks not before the council?” Cr Scott: “ No!” Replying to an allegation concerning the committee’s deliberations, Cr Shaddock said that the committee could change its opinion half a dozen times before the report came before the council. Cr Black continued that there was no mention of the amount of work the trucks could do, and he would like to know something about this, and also what tonnage it was capable of. He asked whether it would be better to spend £IO,OOO or £12,000 on the roads wliich would last for ever or on trucks that would bo scrapped as soon as the work was comnleted. What ho wanted to ascertain was whether the money could not be bettor spent than was proposed, and to verify tho statement that it was impossible to tender for the work by contract. Referring to the amendment, lie said that it had a local application, but he saw no reason why anyone should not tender for the work. Cr Clark said that ho meant that contracts should be open to the whole dominion.

Or Black explained that he was not ii)) against the E.P. and L, Committee, but he wanted things to bo done on business lines, economically and as quickly as possible. Cr Mitchell supported the amendment. The ordering of trucks would mean a delay of at least three months. He was of opinion that contracts giving contractors a reasonable chance ot carrying out the work would bo readily applied for in Dunedin with a guarantee for an insurance company against breach of contract. Worse contracts than the present one had been carried out by Dunedin contractors. Cr Wilson said that the main feature of the engineer’s report was the desire to save the construction of the road. The expenditure of £7,000 was small compared with the road .construction that would have to be undertaken. The eleven miles of road already constructed would not stand the wear and tear of ordinary four-wheelers, but six-wheelers reduced the wear and tear by one-third, There would not be three months’ delay, because they had the winter, during which they were unable to do much work, to laud the vehicles here. No guarantee would make it clear that the work would he proceeded with. The fact that the council had time issues otten did not mean that contracts would bo completed up to time. It was a compliment to Dunedin that it was possible to get such machines as those proposed, as they wore difficult to ob* tain in New- Zealand. Cr Scott spoke in support of t 10 amendment. They had been told by a previous speaker, who had been interviewed by those making their living at the transport trade, and by a letter in the ‘ Star.’ that there were plenty of people here capable or canj* mg out the work. The council had rather tl clone things bacM\aids* They had built Waipori and carted thnms there before they had a road. Then an enterprising engineer made them a road, and they sacked him The Mavor said there was a reference to a'load of 3.000 tons, but the total cartage would be many times that amount. In regard to the struo ure* of the trucks, there would bo quotes for three types—hand tipping trucks, hvdrnulic trucks, and trucks which tipped over the side. The trucks were manufactured at Homo, and were the very latest. 1 hey had been bought by the Homo Government, particularly the AA ar Office, for use over rough country. Cr Begg said that no one had been more severe than him in criticising the E.P. and L. Department. Or Snacklock’ did not seem to have a happy knack of carrying the committee with him He or members of his staff always seemed to have something up their sleeves. The way in which matters were pressed upon them, or forced upon them, was becoming unbearable. That was a matter for the chairman to settle himself. The speaker considered the present position had been brought about by the council itself. At a recent meeting the council had agieea that the. work at Waipori should be carried out at all costs, and other work ussponded till the dam was pushed on. The T° r H T ' one of considerable magnitude, and councillors should remember that already over a quarter of a million had been expended, in addition to the price of pipe lines and new generators. It was said the trucks would bo of no further us© to the council alter the Waipori job was done, but his department (water) could do with them. On this occasion he congratulated the electric power and lighting department on coming forward to hasten tbo work. Cr Shacklock, in reply, said no delay could be afforded at all. Cr Scott; We can’t afford to make so many blunders. Cr Shacklock said Cr Clark had stated that cartage work to Waipori had been done by the cartage extractors of Dunedin. Ho was surpmera that Cr Clark

had referred to Dunedin cartage con-

tractors. Or Clark: No, J did not. Cr Shacklock said that as far as ho knew Dunedin contractors had rarely tendered for any work at : Waipori, Tenders had been called m the ordinary way, and on the one occasion a Dunedin firm did get the job it played such mischief with a county road that the council had to put it in order. Dunedin cartage contractors generally left Waipori contracts religiously alone. A guarantee was not much good to the council. If, the council could not supply tjic power demanded as a result of its contract not being done in time, and unemployment resulted, what was the use of a guarantee? The argument that the road could bo put in order was not a strong one. The machine could be running by the time it would take to put the road in order. He would continue to emphasise the urgency of the work until the plant was running. Cr Scott: That is what we want you to do—not to baulk it. Cr Shacklock said the proposed vehicles would not be scrapped after the Waipori job, as the water department would need them. There would be no delay while the vehicles were coming to hand, because no work could ho done in the present weather. When weather conditions were right _ tha vehicles would bo here. The engineer said that if the machines were not running at this time next year he would have to refuse applications ior power. That meant consumers would be disap-* pointed, and unemployment would ho increased.

When a vole was taken on the amendment it was declared to ho carried by 6 votes to 5. The mayor then voted against the amendment, making the voting 6 each way. His Worship said ho would have to cast his vote in a constitutional way, though his opinion was in favour of the report of the committee. He would thus reverse his vote and vote for tim amendment. The amendment was canned.