PUBLIC WORKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23573, 6 February 1940, Page 9

PUBLIC WORKS

IMPORTED MACHINERY MINISTER DEFENDS POLICY ECONOMY WITH MODERN PLANT [by telegraph-—press association] WELLINGTON, Monday The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, gave details of the Government's purchase of machinery from overseas, and, in justification of his public works policy, outlined what modern methods had achieved. At the end of last calendar year, £609,670 worth of machinery had been imported 'from America, and £862,815 had been spent on British machines. It had to be remembered that the class of machine imported from America was not manufactured in England. When he took over, the department was using American petrol engines in road graders. However, England had since perfected a Diesel ongine, which was now being used in all graders. No other American machines were being imported. As a further development graders, with the exception of the engine, were now being manufactured in New Zealand. The policy had been, New Zealand first, England second, and after that the best that the rest of the world could offer. That had been adhered to rigidly. Dealing with results from the machines, Mr. Semple said that with regard to the shifting of earth with angle dozers and carryalls, operated with American tractors, he had found they had 180 pieces of plant of this description, and that the average amount shifted per day was 300 cubic yards. Assuming there were 200 working days for each unit, the whole plant would excavate 10,800,000 cubic yards a year. The cost per cubic yard, 011 the average, was about Is. It was doubtful if it could bo done at less than 3s by hand labour, so there was a saving of 2s a cubic yard, or £1,080,000 a year. Taking Diesel shovels, there were 36 of American and 47 of British manufacture. The average amount excavated a day was 500 cubic yards, and tho total 8,300,000 cubic yards. The average cost, with an average lead of 30 chains, was 2s a yard. By hand labour the cost would, be at least 4s. Thus there was a saving of 2s a yard, making an annual saving of £830,000.