ROAD COSTING

Southland Times, Issue 21771, 28 July 1932, Page 7

ROAD COSTING

OPENING OF CONFERENCE. INTERESTED BODIES. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, July 27. Representatives of the Public Works Department, the Main Highways Board, the Transport Department, the Audit Department, the Institute of County Clerks and County Engineers and the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers are attending a conference which opened in Wellington to-day to consider the problems connected with reading costs. The principal objects are to endeavour to establish a uniform system of costing with regard to road expenditure, and to collect a reasonable amount of traffic statistics to form a basis for the proper study of roading problems so that the maximum benefit will result from the expenditure of funds made available. Mr H. F. Fox, representing a special committee of the Society of Civil Engineers, was elected chairman. In his opening address, Mr Toogood said that his society’s committee had arrived at the conclusion that as far as it could ascertain the traffic conditions now obtaining and likely to obtain in the next decade warranted nothing more than the adequate maintenance of gravel roads, which should be sealed or similarly treated as soon as traffic conditions warranted, and even then should not be adopted without a very close examination of all the factors. In regard to the necessity for some proper method of costing, he said the money being spent on main highways was somewhat in the nature of trust funds, and it was due to everyone concerned that the true facts regarding costs should be brought to light. They should not attempt too much elaboration, but be content for a start to lay down a basis upon which elaboration might be expended when the opportunity occurred. New conditions demanded a new outlook and the country administration had to move with the times. The conference would give an opportunity to get together and study the problem of costing and its significance, and perhaps lay the foundations for more vigorous and more economical and more satisfactory county administration. Committees were appointed to consider various aspects of the problem.