THE HOAD HOLLER.

Northland Age, Volume 16, Issue 17, 16 January 1919, Page 5

THE HOAD HOLLER.

AT the meeting of the Mangonui County Ratepayers’ Association held on Tuesday evening, a long discussion ensued on the much debated question of the purchase of a road roller.

The question was introduced by Mr. E. Saunders, who questioned the action of the Council in not purchasing the Auckland City Council’s road roller for £450, after a number of the ratepayers had offered to provide the finance. This action he considered a great mistake.

Cr. Houston said that their Engineer had advised that a 15ton roller was useless for this county as they could not get it over the bridges, and this opinion had been substantiated by other engineers whom he had consulted and who stated that they did not recommend one of over 12 tons in weight. Other councils had discarded their heavy rollers. Mr. J. M. Forster suggested that one could be secured that could be loaded with water up to the required weight. Mr. E. C. Matthews said that no resolution had been passed at the ratepayers’ meeting recommending the purchase of the Auckland City Council’s road roller. He was against the purchase of a second-hand roller which would cost several hundred pounds to put in repair. Mr. Grigg said that at an executive meeting a resolution had been passed recommending the purchase of the roller in question. However, as the engineer had reported against it they could not blame Councillors.

Mr. F. Holder said that the roller in question had since been purchased by the Whakatane County Council and he had been informed by a resident in that district that it was in every way satisfactory. If it had only been used for the formation of the Kaitaia Main Street and then thrown on the scrap heap, it would have been a good investment. Mr. McMullen, County Engineer, said that the road roller proposed was too heavy and he would not take the responsibility of taking it over the present bridges or the proposed concrete culverts, which owing to the deficiency of fall in the outlet would only have about thirteen inches of covering on them. He was also against the purchase of a second hand roller, even if they could to-day procure one of ten tons weight. He must advocate the best and up to date plant.

Colonel Bell then asked the engineer if a roller was to be procured to carry out the formation of the Kaitaia Main Street.

Mr. McMullen said that this was a matter for the Council to decide. \He had strongly recommended it, but in his position he could only recommend.

Colonel Bell said that if the Council did not procure a roller then they would have to request them to stop the construction in Kaitaia. It was no use whatever attempting to construct the road unless the formation and also the metal was well rolled. Irthis were not done their money would be absolutely wasted within five years, and after this demonstration there would be no hope of securing the support of ratepayers to further loans for good roads. This was the first practical start in the good roads movement and the eyes of the ratepayers would be centred on it. Rather than have the road laid down without a roller it would be better to remain in the mud for another year. The failure to purchase the Auckland City Council’s roller was a grave mistake. Temporary provision could easily have been made to take it across the bridges and culverts. Mr. Holder was quite right in his assertion that it would have been a payable proposition even if it had to be discarded after doing the work in Kaitaia. If the road were constructed without a roller it would involve the ratepayers in a loss of at least £1,500. The roller in question was very cheap at the price at which it was offered and

was giving every satisfaction at Wakatane.

Mr. Grigg said that he must support Colonel Bell in his attitude with regard to the road roller. To make a good road a roller was absolutely essential. “ Let us have a road that we can be proud of even if we have to wait another summer,” said the speaker in conclusion.

Mr. McMullen said that the matter would be before the Council again on Thursday. He himself realised the impossibility of constructing the road without a roller, what they required was one of ten tons weight.