Whangarei County Favours Derating

Northern Advocate, 16 January 1948, Page 5

Whangarei County Favours Derating

The Whangarei County Council at the next conference of the Counties’ Association, will once more press for the utilisation of the whole of rate moneys on roading. The abolition of hospital taxation on land will also be sought. The council today appointed its chairman (Mr J. Morrison) delegate to the 1948 conference to be held in Rotorua. The Treasury wrote approving the application for a grant from the Main Highways Board for the reforming of the Whangarei-Onerahi Road. ROAD TO HEADS Mr A. J. Murdoch, M.P., forwarded the text of a letter from the Minister of Works (Mr Semple) refusing a grant of free money to increase fhe depth of the metal on the Whangarei Heads Road. The Minister considered the original grant of £IOOO to be generous: The council -will support any move the Commissioner of Transport might see fit to. make to standardise road markings. i BULK PURCHASE The council resolved to support the scheme of bylk buying of machinery and toolft

It was pointed out that counties buying together could obtain- more iavourable prices. Cr W. M. Fraser suggested that the requirements in the way of smaller lines, such as gumboots, should be obtained from businessmen in the town, and that bulk buying be restricted to heavy machinery, such as graders. It was resolved to forward the list of requirements.to the Counties’ Association. GRADER OPERATIONS Mr Fraser said that the ratepayers’ money could not be spent in a better way than purchasing another heavy grader. 1 The matter of working double shift on the graders was raised, but it was considered that it would not prove satisfactory to have two men operating one grader. Cr J. J. S. Linnell said that the graders were capable of such good work that it was unfortunate that they should be parked on the side of the road any longer than necessary. If the drivers were willing to work on Saturdays, particularly in the summer months, the overtime rates paid would be well spent, he considered. IIOUTO DEVIATION It was decided mat the county engineer (Mr K. W. King) and the riding member (Cr M. W. Wilson) confer with the PWD on the subject of the Houto Road detour. A claim had been made by the council for assistance in maintaining this road, used as a detour when flooding occurred on the Dargaville-Whangarei Road. The PWD replied to the claim requesting particulars of dates on,which flooding necessitated the use of the detour.