GREAT SOUTH ROAD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21245, 27 July 1932, Page 14

GREAT SOUTH ROAD

PAPAKURA-BOMBAY SECTION RECONSTRUCTION WORK URGED FORMING DRURY DEVIATION [from our own correspondent] PUKEKOIIE, Tuesday Details of the amount of work for unemployed in the proposed reconstruction and paving of the Great South Road from I'apakura to Bombay wero discussed today by Mr. J. N. Massey, M.P., chairman of the Franklin County Council, with Mr. J. F. McArthur, engineer to the council, Mr. McArthur having prepared plans and estimates for tho whole work. "The deviation required at Drury appears to offer immediate scope for employment of, say, 30 married men," Mr. Massey said later. "They could travel to and from work by rail and thus avoid any necessity for the erection of a camp." He explained that tho deviation was about 30 chains long. It was on a new alignment away from the present road. Other deviations involved disturbance of the present road surface. A largo concrete culvort would need to bo found by tho Highways Board to allow the Drury deviation to proceed. This could be placed in position and filling and cutting work started. Tho owner of tho land there, Mr. W. J. Brooks, had agreed to give free of charge the area required from him for the road. Tho reconstruction and paving of the road was a national work awaiting men. Tho County Council had agreed that the Highways Board should undertake the work and chargo it with a portion of the cost up to £23,000 on completion. Mr. McArthur's estimate for the undertaking was £105,000, about half of which would probably be labour cost. Much of this could bo covered by unemployment relief and the deviation at Drury 'offered an opportunity for making a start.