SEALING SUBSIDY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18530, 17 October 1934, Page 14

SEALING SUBSIDY

NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION ft!ENTER ANNIE SECTION An explanation that tho Main Highways Board's bitumen sealing subsidy of £3 for £1 was not intended for construction work, suen as that on tbe Gentle Annie section of tbe Ilangaroa highway, was submitted to tlie Cook County Council to-day, when it was decided to make representations to the board asking that the increased subsidy should apply to tho whole work on the Gentle Annie Hill. Tho Main Highways Board’s representative at Gisborne, Mr. O. G. Thornton, advised that tho board would subsidise at the rate of £3 for £1 all sealing work carried out as from April 1, 1934, in the way of preparation for sealing as well as actual sealing work. Preparation for sealing included widening and formation, adding metal, and minor improvements incidental to preparing the highway for a seal coat. Work carried out prior to April 1, 1934, but not paid for till after that date, would not carry the £3 for £1 subsidy. In forwarding tho board’s approval for the reconstruction «f tho Gentle Annie section of tho Ilangaroa highway, subject to certain amendments to the council’s proposals, Mr. Thornton wrote: “With regard to the subsidy for this work, it was not intended to pay ’£3 for £1 on what really amounts to reconstruction. The term ‘preparation’ is merely intended to cover such work as may be necessary to increase the depth of metal already on the road and include minor alterations running perhaps to £IOOO per mile, but this job almost appears to lie complete reconstruction, there being very little benefit from the original road. In view of these circumstances, £2 for £1 will be paid on the reconstruction and £3 for £1 on the sealing.”

The chairman, Cr. Charles Matthews, said that the council had hoped to secure a subsidy of £3 for £1 on the whole of the Gentle Annie work.

In reply to a question, the engineer, Mr. K. F. Jones, stated that tho reconstruction work on Gentle Annie would cost about £3OOO a mile and tho scaling about £SOO a mile. Or. M. T. B. Hall: Then three for one will bo on only a very small proportion. On Cr. E. IL Baker’s motion, it was decided to thank the Main Highways Board for its offer of the increased subsidy on tho sealing, but to write urging the board to reconsider its refusal to include nil the Gentlo Annie work in view of its high cost.