HUTT ROAD

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11664, 31 October 1923, Page 9

HUTT ROAD

QUESTION OF TENDERS CITY COUNCIL AND SUBURBAN BODIES. PETONE AND HUTT PROTEST. The calling of tenders for the construction of the Hutt road was discussed at meetings of the Petone and Lower Hutt Borough Councils, councillors rather sharply criticising the Wellington City Council on the stand it had taken up in the invitation of tenders. When the subject was brought up at the meeting of the Petone Borough Council, Councillor Cook expressed the opinion that if tenders were to close on November Bth thero was no possible chance for a contractor to tender ; certainly no contractor ontside the Dominion had. an opportunity to tender. If the City Council was to do the work, then the council should be prepared to tender in precisely the same manner as was expected of private contractors, that those who would have to pay for the road would know exactly what it was going to cost them, and not have to depend upon the guidance of an estimate which might be exceeded. “HARD-AND-FAST SPECIFICATIONS Councillor Cook also criticised the hard-and-fast specifications, which allowed no opportunity for other methods of laying down the road, no matter what guarantees might be given by the contractor. In Sydney he had been given the opportunity of investigating the methods adopted there, and he had found that the road giving the best results was laid down by an American patented machine, the new surface being only two inches thick in place of the 6£ inches proposed for the Hutt road. The metal there had to be carted over a distance of more than forty miles. That, of course, enormously increased the cost, which amounted to 11s per square yard of finished road. The guarantee given by the Sydney contractors was to lay down and maintain the road £or five years, and at the end of that time to hand it over in perfect order and condition. The contractor mentioned stated that he •would be doing very bad business if, with one machine, he could not complete the Hutt road in one summer. On the motion of Councillor Cook, seconded by Councillor Jacobsen, it •was decided to protest to the City Council in regard to the short notice given to tenderers, and it also resolved, on the motion of Councillors Jay and Hay, to call a meeting of contributing bodies with a view to having the road vested in a representative Jboard. WILL WORN BE CARRIED OUT? SPECIFICATIONS AND BOARD OF CONTROL. Councillor Watkins, speaking at the meeting -of the Lower Hutt Borough Council, said that it was certainly pleasing to know that tenders had at last been called, but nevertheless he was not so sure that the work would be carried out. The tenders had been called too hurriedly, and. as they were to close on November Bth, those who might wish to tender had no time in which to do so. He did not want to say or do anything that would stop the work on t'ne road, but he did not think that any of the other large centres would put down a car track of 20 feet and leave the remainder of the road to be maintained at a high cost. He did not think the City Council was in earnest over the matter, and would like to feel in his own mind that it was the serious intention of the council to carry out the work. The fact that the City Council would not allow metal to be taken from its quarry at Ngahauranga Gorge showed that big obstacles were being placed before intending contractors. He would like to know if the council could do anything in the matter. The Mayor (Mr W. T. Strand) said he would like to hold over further discussion until the closing date of the tenders. He agreed that the short time given to tenderers was absurd. He felt that the City Council had no serious intention, of doing anything. After the time had elapsed for receiving tenders a stir should be made. He did not think any work on the road would be done this year. He would like to inform them that the specifications bad never been before the Hutt Control Board.