MANGERE AERODROME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22349, 21 February 1936, Page 16

MANGERE AERODROME

TRANSPORT OF SPOIL TRUCK HAULAGE PROVIDED The provision of trucks and a railtrack for the transport of spoil at the Mangere aerodrome improvement scheme is being made by the Public Works Department as promised recently by the Minister, Hon. R. Semple, in the course of a visit to the job. During the past few days a number of trucks and a quantity of rails and timber for track construction have been delivered at the aerodrome. According to statements yesterday it is understood that as soon as the full complement of plant is available it will be brought into commission in place of wheelbarrows. The use of barrows for transporting spoil over considerable distances was strongly condemned by the Minister. Men employed at Mangere are required to wheel spoil for distances up to eight chains., A special allowance is made under the contract for wheeling over distances exceeding one chain. The trucks delivered at the job aro of metal throughout and have a carrying capacity of about one and onethird cubic yards. They aro similar in type to those used in past years on public works jobs. Men with experience in their use state that mechanical power for haulage of the trucks should not be necessary, unless they are loaded and moved in rakes. Several men stated yesterday that, in their opinion, the trucks will not wholly supersede the barrows. The present method of wheeling spoil is considered to be the most expeditious under certain working conditions where the run from the working face to the tip is not unduly long. The laying of the track on the jobs selected for the use of truck haulage will be commenced shortly.