MAIN HIGHWAY, KILMOG

Evening Star, Issue 21716, 10 May 1934, Page 12

MAIN HIGHWAY, KILMOG

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I notice mention has been made by Mr Breen, of the Otago Motor Club, of the state of the tar sealing on above road. 1 think he hits the mark very ably. I think 1 am right when I say this section of the highway was laid down by contractors and soon went to pieces, and not so long ago was done again, or at least an attempt to do it again was made. So much for letting contracts instead of doing the work by the Main Highways Board’s own staff. As the . road is at present the cost of improvement, which no doubt would be considerable, does not speak well for the contract system. In all my experience, which is considerable, and in conversation generally with various other metal contractors and carters, work done by the Highways Board under judisdiction of its own staff and use of its own plant has proved lasting. One hears of the cost, which, after all. is no more than is paid under the contract svstem and even if it were slightly more it is there to stay, and cheaper in the long run for all concerned. The Dunedin to Portobello road was done by the Highways Board’s own men and it- lias proved a £oo<3 road. ]\Tany others I know of merit the same remarks. Perhaps if the Highways Board ripped up the Kilmog sealing and did the job over itself some lasting benefit would he evident. —T am, etc., Three-tard Truck. May 10. [We are informed that the work done on the Kilmog from time to time was in accordance with the Highways Board’s own specifications. The opinion expressed from one expert quarter was that the cost to date on this section would have provided a first class permanent surface if spent on ono contract, instead of the money being frittered away in small sums. None of the asphalt work on the Portobello road was done by the hoard’s own staff. —Ed. E.S.]