Money Wasted On Metal If Roads Not Drained

Northern Advocate, 25 May 1949, Page 5

Money Wasted On Metal If Roads Not Drained

“ROADING problems m the North are quite unique, and, unless we can drain our roads, we can throw a lot of money away in metal and sealing," said the district engineer of the Ministry of Works, Auckland (Mr W. L. Bell) who pressed at a meeting of the No. 1 District Highways Council m Whangarei this morning. «A big percentage of our grants has to be spent on maintenance,” he said. “That is probably due to. rising costs, but we have got to pay a lot of attention to the draining of our highways.” Agreeing with Mr Bell, Mr A. C« Yarborough (Hokianga) said. that, as H body, the council should back up any proposals for keeping water off the roads. ' “As a layman X should think that if a road was drained on either side it would remain dry for a period, but would it get wet underneath," asked Mr J. Morrison (Whangarai). Mr Bell said the water-tables In the North seemed to be too close to the road surface, Drains should be kept back from the- sealed sur j£ce. CAUSES MOST TROUBLE “A good width of shoulder is a very Important part of the road " he said. “Eighty per cent of our troubles with roads are due to bad draining” “Ivon state highways dip in places, said Mr W. Q. Somerville (Hobson). “What is the cause of that?" Mr Bell replied that he was not sure, but he was willing to het it was bad drainage. In some places it had been overcome by tiled drains. “Before sealing roads, have a good look at the drains first.” he advised. _ “Progress Is built on having good roads," said Mr Yarborough, “but for the time being, we may be farced to limit loads on roads, as Mr Bell suggested" „ “I think that is the point, Mr Yarborough," said Mr Bell. “We have to make haste slowly/* GETTING “BACK PAY” To Mr T. H. C. Snelling (Otamatea) Mr Bell said he was sure the allocation of £420.000" for the 1340-50 period had bean made With the understanding that conditions of road building in Northand were more difficult than in other parts of New Zealand. * “Northland has always been fairly generously treated by the board,’* he remarked. Mr Yarborough said he felt every confidence in Mr Bell. “In the past we have probably been neglected, but, during the last seven or eight years I think we have been getting some of the back pay. thanks to Mr Bell.” HIGHWAYS APPLICATIONS Applications for roads in their areas to.be declared main highways were made by the seven Northland counties. Except for an application to have 12 chains added to the present DargavilleTtkinui .Main Highway to bring in Eaupo Road, all applications were the same as submitted last year. Mr Soelling*s motion that additional highways as applied for b e approved,

and that the general order of priority of applications in the district be left in the hands of the chairman, number one priority from each county to be included in the first seven, was cavriea. Speaking on the applications, Mr J. Morrison said local bodies «afiould n0 * cope with the maintenance of these roads on account of the amount of foreign traffic. . ... ‘‘Our main objective is to build roads to help producers," he said. “We don’t want to make a good road just for tourists. The number one priority on the Whangarei County’s list is the Whangarei Heads road. • “We hud that the only solution is to have it declared a mein highway.” FORMIDABLE LIST “The Highways Board has been quite generous in the declaration of _ main highways,' but to what extent it will go on doing that I don’t know,” commented Mr Bell. "This is a fairly formidable list as you can see, and I can’t see all the roads on it being declared main highways. However, all we can do is put it tp the board. Mr Yarborough asked if there was a possibility of the road from Mangamuka to Kaitaia, through Herekino. being declared a state highway. Mr Bell replied that he did not think Ihe time opportune to approach the board about that. He suggested that a larger subsidy be asked for. “We have been approaching the board with most of these items for four or five years, without success,” commented Mr H. T. Atkinson {Bay of Islands). “Is there to be any indication when the board will grant these main highways?” Mr Bell said it was the board’s policy at present not to declare any new highways. The board had approached the Government for more money for highways,' but without success. CONCRETE ROADS

Mr Somerville asked Mr Bell fpi his opinion on the surfacing of roads with cement. The board had tried cement roads in the old days, but, if the foundations were no good, neither concrete nor tar sealing would stand up to the traffic, Mr Bell replied. Concrete roads had been discontinued because the traffic density in New Zealand was not extensive enough to warrant them, he added.