WHANGAREI COUNTY ROADS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19732, 3 September 1927, Page 12

WHANGAREI COUNTY ROADS

PLANS FOR IMPROVEMENT.

MACHINERY TO BE PURCHASED

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. J WHANGAREI. b'nduj After a tour of the' Dominion the engineer to the ..Whangarei County Council, Mr- J. Norris, made an exhaustive report to the council on roading methods at a special meeting to-day. •'There was a long discussion on the proposed purchase of pew roading macninery, as recommended by the special committee set up to consider the engineer's scheme. The chairman, Mr. L. Webb, in introducing the question, said the machinery actually wanted by the county included a new road roller, a power grader and two sets of granulating jaws ior -attaching to the crushers to obtain finer metal. An application had been mad© for £2500 for,these purchases and the' speaker moved that the committee s recommendation be approved. Mr. Hayward, in seconding the chairman's motion, said finer metal for binding was absolutely essential. The purchase of a lighter type of roller was urged by Mr. Allan, who said he thought the county should purchase the machinery and get its methods more up-■fco-date. The Highways Board had a real grievance against it, but the county had done its best in the past with the finance and machinery at its disposal. Mr. McDonald said the engineer s scheme showed an expenditure of £40,000 annually, and only £31,000 was in sight, out of which" hospital levies, cost of administration, etc., had to be paid. He criticised the present roading methods in the county and was supported by Mr. Elliott An amendment by Mr. Allan was put to the meeting, five members voting for it and five against. The chairman exercised his casting ■ vote against the amendment and the original motion was carried on the voices. It was then decided, on the motion of Mr. Johnson, to purchase a roller and to see the nower graders demonstrated before deciding on the type.