PROBLEM OF ROADING COSTS

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 28 July 1932, Page 5

PROBLEM OF ROADING COSTS

ENGINEERS IN CONFERENCE

COMMITTEES SET UP (■uonmoossy ssojj—i(dej3oiox Ag) ‘ WELLINGTON, July 2/. Representatives, of the Public Works Department, the Main Highways Board the Transport Department, the Audit Department, the Institute of County Clerks and County Engineers, and the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers are attending a conference which'opened in Wellington to-day t® consider problems connected with reading costs. The principal objects of the conference are to endeavour to establish a uniform system of costing with regard to road expenditure, and to collect a reasonable amount of traffic statistics to form; the basis for a proper study of roading probleyas so that maximum benefit will resuilt from the expenditure of the funds made available. Mr H, F. Toogood, representing a special committee of the Society of Civil Engineers, was elected chairman. In liis opening address Mr Toogood said his -society’s committee had. arrived at the conclusion that, as far as it could ascertain, the traffic conditions now obtaining anti likely to obtain in the next decade warranted nothing more than adequate' maintenance of gravel roads, which .should be sealed or similarly treated as scon as traffic conditions warranted, and even then should not be adopted without a very close examination of all! the factors.

With 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. New conditions demanded a new outlook, and county administration had to move with the times. The conference would, give an opportunity to get together to study the problem of costing and its significance, and perhaps lay the foundations for a more vigorous, more economical and more satisfactory county atlmi lustration.

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