ROADING COSTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 July 1932, Page 2

ROADING COSTS

N.Z. CONFERENCE OPENED. . [per press association.] WELLINGTON, July 27. The representatives of Public Works Department- Main Highways Board, Transport Department, Audit Department, Institute of County Clerks and County Engineers, and New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers, are attending a conference which opened at Wellington to-day, to consider the problems connected wi£h . reading costs.

The principal objects are to endeavour to establish a uniform system of costing with regard to road expenditure and collect a reasonable amount of traffic statistics to form a basis for proper study of reading problems, so that the maximum benefit will result from the expenditure of funds made available.

Mr H. F. Toogood, representing a special committee of the Society of Civil Engineers was elected Chairman. In his opening address, Mr Toogood said that his Society’s Committee had arrived at the conclusion that as ■ far as it could ascertain, the traffic conditions now obtaining and likely to obtain in the next decade, warranted nothing more than adequate maintenance of gravel roads which should be sealed, or similarly treated, as soon as traffic conditions warranted, and even then should not be adopted without very close examination of all factors. In regard to the necessity for some proper method of costing, he said that the money being spent on main highways was somewhat in the nature of trust funds, and it was due to everyone concerned that the true facts regarding costs should be brought to light. They should not attempt too much elaboration, but be content for a start to lay down a basis upon which elaboration might be expended when the opportunity occurred. The new conditions demanded a new outlook and County administration had to move with the times. The conference would give an opportunity to get together and study the problem of costing and its significance, and perhaps lay the foundations for more vigorous, more economical and more satisfactory country administnS tion.

Committees were appointed to consider the various aspects of the problem. ;