ROAD ROLLER FOR THE BOROUGH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 85, 30 May 1911, Page 5

ROAD ROLLER FOR THE BOROUGH.

ONE TO BE PKOCUIM'T). Tiic matter of a road roller lias been in the air for some considerable time in the proceedings of both the Borough Council and the Comity Council, but no practical forward move has been made. At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council Cr. Paget moved that a‘special loan of £9OO bo raised for the purpose of purchasing a steam road roller. Cr. Paget said that in the dying hours of 'the last Council it had been decided that a steam road roller should bo acquired at once, but the roller had not been procured. It was highly necessary to have a roller. The casual labour employed on the borough streets was high-priced and unsatisfactory. , A roller and scarifier would ho a good investment—if he thought the Council would not buy one lie would lie prepared to buy one himself and hire it out. The Council should be able to make considerable revenue from hiring out the roller to neighbouring local bodies. Ho had brought the matter on at once to enable the Council to make enquiries, and to indent the roller from Home. He wanted flic roller considered separately from the general loan, because the loan might not he carried, while the roller was an absolute necessity. It would certainly he wanted if the loan was carried, but it was urgently necessary whether the loan was . raised or not. Cr. Sangster seconded the motion. He thought a roller would bo one of the best assets flic borough could have. Cr. King said at first he had not approved Cr. Paget’s motion, but after Cr. Paget’s explanation lie thought a good case had been made out. The County Council had been considering the matter of getting a roller, and they were probably waiting to see what the Borough intended doing. Cr. Healy supported the motion, but asked if it would not bo advisable to also purchase a crupher. The present crusher was far from perfect. , The Mayor said lie thought it would lie better instead of raising a special loan to buy the roller on time payment, with the rigli.t_to pay off at any time. He thought it would he the cheaper way. Cr. Paget, in reply, said lie had considered the matter of a crusher, and had consulted experts, and lie had come to the conclusion that it was not economical to use the roller engine for the crusher. As to time payment, he thought much more womd he paid by that means than if the money was got from the Government. Cr. Healy moved as an amendment that a crusher be obtained with the roller.

Cr. Ward seconded pro forma. He could not see how the plant could he worked economically. It would perhaps he better to get a separate engine for the crusher. This might especially ho advisable because of the largo vamount of work needed to be done if the proposed loan was carried. Cr. gangster said he could not support the amendment. He '.nought that in the past the Council had not paid too dear for its crushing. Cr. King said the Mount Egmont quarry should bo considered. He thought that the Government had struck good stone at the quarry, and that in a short time stone would be available for local'bodies. Cr. Morison opposed the motion, on the ground that in a short time it would be necessary to get metal either, from the Mountain,,or from further up ith'6" railway Tine. '.Cr. Healy was granted leave to withdraw his amendment. He said 1.-o had merely brought the matter up 10 have it discussed. Cr. Paget’s motion was then carried, and the Town Clerk was instructed to take immediate steps to have the loan raised.