LESS SEALING OF ROADS

Southland Times, Issue 23989, 2 December 1939, Page 4

LESS SEALING OF ROADS

POSSIBILITY STATED BY MR SEMPLE SHORTAGE OF BITUMEN IN NEW ZEALAND (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, December 1. A modification of the Main Highways Board’s programme of road sealing is threatened. The Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) in an interview today said that any modification would be caused by a shortage of bitumen. There was also a shortage of tar and that together with the short supply of bitumen was likely to bring about a “cutting down” of the board’s programme. The programme for the maintenance and construction of main highways for the current financial year was based on the continuance of activities on practically the same scale of operations as for 1938-39. In that year extensive paving operations were carried out, the greatest amount of new sealing in any one year —385 miles—being recorded. On March 31 dustless, surfaced highways totalled 2800 miles, or approximately 23 per cent, of the main highway system. Asked for an amplification of his statement at Auckland that public works were to be graded Mr Semple said that no special classifications for various jobs had been drawn up although both he and officials of th® Public Works Department had clearly in their mind’s eye the course which would be followed.

“The principle is that men are being transferred from works which are not considered to be urgently needed,” said the Minister. “Only this week we shifted 150 men from one job on to more productive work.” Asked if any hold-up of major construction works was likely to take place because of the difficulty of obtaining supplies of essential materials from overseas, Mr Semple said that materials for most of the important works were in the Dominion or were expected to be delivered but he added: “We may have trouble in getting materials for proposed new bridges.”