Less Grading Work On County Roads

Northern Advocate, 15 November 1941, Page 4

Less Grading Work On County Roads

The extent of the employment of graders on roads under the control of the Whangarei County Council in view cf present conditions was considered by the county council at its monthly meeting today. Reporting on graders, the engineer (Mr. J. Norris) stated that the cost of employment of the machines was met by grant and highway authorisations based on estimates and riding funds. The grant amount was small this year and the use of graders in grant work consequently was curtailed. The highway authorisations were based on full maintenance items including metalling and bridge repairs and although frequent grading was most beneficial to the roads it should not be employed to the exhaustion of yearly authorities that covered other essential work and contingencies. | Extent of Employment | The employment of graders on ridj ing roads particularly during the sum|mer would result in useful improvement. Some ridings had not sufficient funds to meet grading costs and provide for other essentials. It was now necessary that the council should instruct as to what extent the graders were to be employed in the respective ridings because grant and highway provision was too slim •to keep grading' going at the present rate. One driver had been accepted for military service and was leaving for camp this week. Another driver had been employed as a casual driver in the fifth machine on call. The use of three machines only was all the present authorisations would carry and the employment of more calls for special riding authorisations. The clerk (Mr. FI. C. Hemphill) suggested that the vacancy should not be filled. The report was adopted, the council deciding not to fill the vacancy as there was not sufficient money available to keep all the graders working.