MAIN SOUTH ROAD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22580, 19 November 1936, Page 13

MAIN SOUTH ROAD

PLAN FOR WIDENING ONE TREE HILL SCHEME COST ESTIMATED AT £17,900 QUESTION OF SUBSIDY A scheme for widening the Great South Koad between the tram terminus and the overhead bridge at Penrose, at an estimated cost of JL'17,900, was before the One Tree Hill Borough Council last night. However, the council did not favour the terms of subsidy proposed by the Kinploymeut Department and decided to renew its application for a more satisfactory subsidy. Mr. A. G. Osborne, M.P. for Manukau, was present and assured members of his support. A consulting engineer, Mr. K. G. Sl.vlield, submitted a report on the scheme. He estimated the number of vehicles using the road at 5800 a day and recommended the use of concrete rather than bitumen. The direct labour cost would he 41.-17 per cent of the total. Employment Department's Offer The Employment Department said it would be prepared to provide a subsidy on the basis of 4os a man-week for each registered and eligible unemployed married man taken from the register and employed full-time at not less than the current public works rate of wages, or award rates if these were higher. The subsidy would he available on this basis whether the work was carried out by contract or by the employment of labour bv the council itself. "The reply is very disappointing," said the town clerk, Mr. A. Lccse, irr a report on the matter. "The local benefits of the widening proposal are comparatively small, the great bulk of the traffic being of a through nature. Furthermore, the restriction of the subsidy to registered and unemployed married men taken from the register would certainly result in an increase in the cost, possibly to such an extent as to completely nullify the subsidy.

Ample Margin Needed "I discussed this matter with the principal of a leading firm of road contractors and he stated that with such a restriction in the contract conditions tenderers would need an ample margin to cover the risk of loss attaching to inefficient labour so engaged. "The experience of the consulting engineer entirely confirms the information given by the contractor. Under normal conditions, with the contractor picking his own men and basing the wages on an average of £4 15s a 40-hour week, a subsidy of 4-js a man-week would amount to £3771 or 21 per cent of the total cost of the job, £17,900. The net cost to the ratepayers, after adding, say, £6-3 for expenses of raising a loan, would then be £14,200. Interest and sinking fund on this, at per cent and 14 per cent respectively, amounts to £7lO per annum, requiring a special rate of 1 1-lod in the pound. However, money is showing a firming tendency and it may not be possible to borrow at per cent." Better Basis Essential The Mayor, Mr. I. J. Goldstine, said the road was quite sufficient for the actual needs of the district, but it was the one outlet south for the whole of the province and the bulk of the traffic was from outside the borough. He considered the subsidy on a wage basis would be unsatisfactory, as men from the bureau would not be able to carry out the work as well as regular workers.

The council was prepared to take its share, but Mr. Goldstine thought the departments should consider it on a provincial basis. It was impossible for the borough to embark on the scheme and lie would not be prepared to recommend it to the ratepayers unless it was in a position to get a subsidy. The council decided to reapply to the Main Highways Board and the Employment Department for a more satisfactory subsidy.