STEEL AND RUBBER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21926, 9 October 1934, Page 5

STEEL AND RUBBER

DEMANDS UPON ROADS ELIMINATION OF DUST MAIN HIGHWAY COSTS Changes that have become necessary in roading work since tho advent of motor traffic were outlined in the statement, submitted by the Main Highways Board in Wellington at the inquiry by the Transport Co-ordination Board into motor taxation. The roading system of New Zealand, it was pointed out, was originally designed and constructed for slow-moving horse-drawn vehicles, and, consequently, curves were sharp and widths were narrow, but the class ot road thus provided catered quite well for that type of traffic. A feature of the horsedrawn vehicle was the steel tires, which by slow abrasion produced enough fine material to keep tho road surfaces smooth. Tho advent of tho motor vehicle wholly changed this position. Speed rapidly developed and better alignment and tho superelevation of curves became an urgent necessity. Because of higher speeds and traffic intensities road surfaces had to ho of greater width than previously. "These were tho conditions which confronted the board in 1924," tho statement continued, "and in addition hundreds of bridges throughout the Dominion were found to be near the end of their useful lives. Up to the present the major portion of the board's construction fund has teen absorbed in modernising the formation of tho old roads and renewing bridges in order of urgency, and there is still much to be done in the latter direction. Dustless surfaces have so far not been provided to any great extent, but there is an increasing demand for such surfaces. "Tho demand is made by tho road-, user, the landowner, and the roading authority; by tho road-user because he desires travel comfort, b.y tb© landowner to alleviate the dust nuisance which deteriorates his pastures, and by tho roading authority because within tho limits of certain /traffic intensities the effect is to reduce annual costs." Tho statement continued: —"From tho board's experience, arising from those cases where dustless surfacing has been undertaken, it has been found that there is a serious deficiency in the existing metal thickness, the average in most cases being approximately three to four inches, and while this thickness may carry the ordinary light motor vehicle, it is not sufficient for heavy vehicles up to 6-J tons gross, which weight is considered to be a reasonable standard. "To provide for tho improvement of main highways 011 tho lines indicated, the board considers that not less than £500,000 per annum should be available in its Construction Fund."

BLENDING OF BUTTER

INADEQUATE DESCRIPTION REFORM WANTED IN ENGLAND Objection to the blending of Empire and foreign Gutters on tho British market has been made recently in New Zealand and tho question is also being discussed in England. Acocrding to an English correspondent, there is a movement, sponsored by the Conservative Parliamentary Agricultural Committee and the Empire Industries' Association, for stricter regulation of the marking of blended butters. Iho writer states: "Tho only requirement under the present marking order is that blended butter containing foreign butter should bear the inscription, 'Containing imported butter,' no name of origin being requisito. Ihis means that although 'straight' foreign butters must be marked 'foreign,' and Empire butters marked 'Empire,' a blend of the two, even when it is overwhelmingly foreign, need only bo marked 'containing imported,' so that tho English housewife is frequently and easily deceived about what sho is buying. "Sir Basil Peto, a West Country M.P., recently drew the attention of tho Minister of Agriculture, Mr. W. Elliott, to tho fact that Russian butter imported into Britain was never retailed as such, but was blended with other- butters and sold under various names which gave 110 indication of tho country of origin. Mr. Elliot replied that it was impossible at present to introduce legislation making obligatory tho full description of the origin of component parts of blended butter. It may be taken for granted, however, .that tho matter will again bo brought up when Parliament reassembles in October." .

EXPORT OF FUNGUS

TRADE UNUSUALLY ACTIVE SHIPMENTS TO CHINA The export of fungus from New Zealand to China is unusually active at present. The Government [statistician s figures reveal that a surprisingly large quantity of tliis unusual commodity is exported from New Zealand, lo the end of July of this year C77cwt., valued at £1853, had been exported, compared with 617cwt., valued at £2057, for the same period in 1933. From conversation with a representative of a Chinese firm in New Plymouth, acting as fungus-buyers in laranaki for a Hongkong firm, it was learned, says the Taranaki Herald, that New Zealand fungus, particularly laranaki, is regarded as especially suitable for whatever purpose it is used in China. The New Zealand fungus was stated to bo more succulent and larger than that grown in China or imported from other countries. Questioned regarding the purpose for which the fungus is used, the Chint.se agents were mute, parrying with a bland "I dunno." However, it was gathered .that it was esteemed by both poor and rich, the former, according to the informant, buying it whenever they could raiso sufficient money. Europeans have stated that the fungus is used for soup or food, but this statement the agents refused to substantiate. Tests by a New Plymouth resident revealed that if the Chinese do use fungus for food, they must have some particular way of cooking it. He boiled a quantity of fungus in a kerosene tin and after some hours had merely sueceeded in reducing it to a state approximating that of pliable leather. And the liquid left could hardly bo called soup! Fungus is one of Taranak'i s oldest/ exports. In the early clays of pean occupation it was so thick in the near by bush that it was an important source of income.