RULES RELAXED.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13418, 16 May 1912, Page 6

RULES RELAXED.

EXPENDITURE ON GOVERNMENT

GRANTS

CONCESSIONS TO LOCAL BODIES

(Special to "Tha Colonist.")

Wellington, May 15. In order to facilitate the expenditure of Government grants by local authorities for road construction, the Minister of Public Works, tho Hon. WD. B. Macdcmald, has made a change in the method of securing official sanction to tho plans. Under the usual conditions the plans for work in excess of £250 have to bo prepared in triplicateby local bodies, in order to undergo th.o ■scrutiny^ not only of the district engineer ot the Public Works Department but also tho head office engineering staff. This has caused a delay of several months in many instances, but Public Works Department district engineers are to be given power to pass works up to £1000 in value in fut-jre, so that no delay will be caused in tho majority of cases. It is with a similar end in view that the Public Works Department has agreed to modify its ruin regarding b-ridgil construction. it has hitherto insisted upon bridges, even in., remote districts, being constructed to' carry heavy weights, though they are so s;tnativ.l that no load exceeding a few tons goes over them. It has, however, been agreed that in certain areas what is known as the two-ton bridge design will be passed by the Departmental engineers.