“QUITE INADEQUATE”

Southland Times, Issue 25309, 12 June 1935, Page 9

“QUITE INADEQUATE”

FOOTPATHS MAINTENANCE. ENGINEER’S COMMENTS. In his annual report the city engineer draws attention to the inadequate amount allowed for the maintenance of footpaths in the city. For the year ended March 31, 1935, the expenditure on upkeep was £1074 2/8 from revenue and £9 5/6 from Petrol Tax Fund, making a total on footpaths upkeep of £lOB3 8/2 for over 100 miles. This amount, as I have frequently pointed out, is quite inadequate. It is insufficient to patch holes, and does not begin to permit of the periodical surface-sealing which the paths should have, while the very necessary reconstruction of many miles of worn out paths cannot be considered,” stated the engineer. “In earlier years, up to about 1925-26, there were provided sufficient funds to allow of the surface-spraying of about 12-21 miles annually, but for some years now all available money has been needed for patching of actual failures and holes. The omission of this sealing has aggravated the deterioration of paths which sealing would have preserved. In addition, it must be noticed that a very great many of the paths outside the central area were constructed only about 1922-24 from loan funds then raised. These paths, naturally, called for little upkeep for some years, but they have all reached the state when attention is necessary. , Instead of funds being kept down they should be greatly increased. With the funds so greatly restricted it is all the more necessary that only the most suitable and lasting materials should be used. The reconstruction of some of the worst paths was continued, £595 7/4 being spent from revenue, and £256 10/10 under the heading of Relief of Unemployment. Comparative Figures. The expenditure and maintenance of footpaths in the last 20 years has been:

* South Invercargill area included. Petrol tax fund is included as follows: 1932-33, £1556; 1933-34, £2183; 1934-35, £lOB3 The" sum of £172 14/9 was spent on construction of kerbing and channelling fronting business premises and in connection with the footpaths reconstruction.

£ £ 1914-15 980 1925-26 . 878 1915-16 665 1926-27 1197 1916-17 783 1927-28 1491 1917-18 752 1928-29* 1782 1918-19 680 1929-30 2197 1919-20 1110 1930-31 2958 1920-21 607 1931-32 1979 1921-22 233 1932-33 1356 1922-23 786 1933-34 2055 1923-24 848 * 1934-35 1074 1924-25 971