A NEW ROAD “DRAG”

Southland Times, Issue 22921, 20 June 1936, Page 8

A NEW ROAD “DRAG”

IMPROVED FORM OF GRADER INVENTION OF MR W. M. NORMAN INSPECTION BY COUNTY COUNCILLORS The enterprise of Mr W. M. Norman, of Forest Hill, a member of the Southland County Council, should ensure better roads for Southland. Mr Norman has designed a road “drag” which fulfils most of the work of the usual type of grader more efficiently and at considerably less cost. The “drag” was demonstrated to members of the Southland County Council yesterday afternoon and all were impressed with the machine. “An invention for which Mr Norman deserves the congratulations not only of the county but of the province as a whole,” was the remark of one member of the party. Mr G. R. Milward (county engineer) and Mr H. C. Gimblett (county Clerk) were also present at the demonstration. The machine is at present of an experimental nature, but when slight minor improvements have been effected, it should fulfil all requirements. The construction work was carried out by Mr Peter Bly th, of Winton, from plans prepared by Mr Milward. An Idea is Born. Mr Norman, as a member of the Southland County Council, is naturally interested in the roading system of the province and has long felt that the graders at present in use could be improved upon. A practical man, he decided to find this means of improvement for himself, the County Council advancing him a small sum for experimental purposes. Before long he had perfected a “drag,” which yesterday demonstrated its undoubted worth. A light machine, weighing not more than half a ton, it appears ideal for work in gravelled road. Equipped with five blades it distributes' the gravel evenly over the width of the road—completely eliminating that ridge of gravel so disliked by the driver of the small car —and effectively filling in potholes and small corrugations. The gravel is brought from the sides of the road and evenly distributed over a width of 10 feet. Another advantage of Mr Norman’s invention is that it can cover a road in two “cuts,” compared with the three “cuts” required by the ordinary grader. The machine is towed by a tractor. Asked to comment on the machine, Mr Milward said the capital investment in the road “drag” and power machine should be only about half the amount required for the usual road grader. Where is was necessary to re-shape a surface the heavy type of grader would, of course, have to be used. But most of the work on the ordinary gravelled roads consisted merely of re-distribut-ing the gravel ovei - the surface of the road after the traffic had worked it into ridges. “We hope that this new type of ‘drag’ will overcome our road maintenance difficulties at a lower cost than at present,” Mr Milward added. Demonstration at Winton. The demonstration yesterday took place near Winton. Tests were made on a by-road and on the main Wintori highway. On the former Mr Norman's “drag” accomplished in one cut what would have required three cuts by the ordinary grader. On the wider road two cuts were required—one fewer than would have been taken by the usual type of grader. In both cases the surface of the road was left smooth, potholes disappearing as though by magic. The councillors walked well over a mile behind the ‘ drag” to observe its work, but their enthusiasm triumphed over the coldness of the afternoon. After the demonstration the councillors were entertained at afternoon tea in Mr Norman’s residence by the Misses Norman. While returning thanks for the hospitality, each of the guests took the opportunity of praising Mr Norman’s enterprise. Mr F. F. Trapski, chairman of the County Council, said that Mr Norman’s work on the local bodies of Southland was so well known that it did not need repetition. He had always been interested in improving the roads of the province and it had been seen that afternoon that his interest had taken an active form. Referring to Mr Norman as the “father” of the County Council, Cr. T. Golden said that the new “drag” was an invention of no small importance. Its benefit would not be confined to Southland, but to counties throughout the Dominion. Improving Roads. Cr. G. W. Whittingham said it was a matter for regret that their host had not invented the machine some years ago. If he had, the province would have been saved the thousands of pounds expended on the upkeep of the roads. “But now,” he added, “Southland’s roads should soon rank with the best in New Zealand, and that will discount all regrets.” “Mr Norman deserves the thanks of every Southlander,” said Cr. L. A. Niederer. “His machine will do double the work of the ordinary grader at half the cost. We have something now that will be the envy of all the counties in the Dominion.”

The cost of the plant required to maintain the roads of the province had always been a bugbear, said Mr Gimblett. Mr Norman’s road “drag” had, however, completely removed the bugbear. The machine would be much cheaper to manufacture than the ordinary grader and its upkeep would also be much less.

“Cr. Norman has supplied a want that has been felt for a number of years,” said Mr Milward. “He has given us a cheap but highly efficient machine which should help to solve the reading problems of Southland. With 20 or 30 of those ‘road-planers’ at woTk our roads will soon bear comparison with any in the country. Mr Norman deserves the thanks not only of the county, but of the province as a whole for producing such a valuable machine.” Crs. J. Dennis, G. Wraytt and J. McNeill also referred to the great potentialities of the new “drag.”

In reply Mr Norman said that ail congratulations should really go to the councillors themselves. They had advanced the money—a mark of confidence in himself which he very much appreciated—and without money his schemes could never have gone beyond the experimental stage;