ROAD IMPROVEMENT

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4055, 1 June 1938, Page 6

ROAD IMPROVEMENT

IN MATAMATA COUNTY. PROPOSALS FOR A LOAN. A resolution requesting, the Matamata County Council’s engineer, Mr M. E. Fitzgerald, to prepare a comprehensive scheme for the tar-sealing of the main Council roads, which would be financed by a loan of about £50,000, was passed at the last meeting of the Council. The chairman (Mr J. W. Anderson) stated that the financial advantage to be gained by undertaking major important works out of loan money lay in the fact that bitumenous road surfaces cost little in maintenance for the first four years after construction. “ Recent pronouncements of the Minister of Public Works,” said Mr Anderson, “ indicate that he regards the sealing of water-bound metal surfaces on an extensive scale to be imperative and urgent. From this one might foresee the possibility of a reversion to the policy of Public Works Department grants or some other aid from motor or general taxation given towards the cost.” The chairman further suggested that the proposed loan be raised with no restrictions as to the actual roads in the county on which the money would be spent.