MOTORS AND ROADS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1915, Page 2

MOTORS AND ROADS.

A PROGRESSIVE POLICY. ADOPTED BY TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL. For some time past the Taranaki County Council has, in common with most other local bodies, been faced with the problem of re-organising its methods of road-construction to cope with the changed conditions that have been brought into being by the advent of motor traction, which, it is admitted on all sides, has come to stay and has revolutionised road construction. The Taranaki County Council has discussed the matter for some time past with a view to adopting some improved method of tar sealing, and at yesterday's meeting the matter was advanced a further stage when the engineer was given authority to order sufficient soltar or other preparation to seal about 40 chains, commencing from the bottom of the Omata hill towards the borough. The matter was introduced by a paragraph in the engineer's report, which pointed out that this portion of the Omata riding, having recently been scarified and remetalled would afford a good opportunity for applying soltar, which it was proposed to test on the county main road 3.' The test on the hill, lie considered, would be severe, with the heavy traffic that it had to carry, but that was advisable if the question of adopting it generally throughout main roads was to be considered. Cr. M'Allum, who proposed that the material be obtained, said that there was no doubt soltar or something elso would have to be used if they wished to cope witli the extraordinary traffic. If they went on as they were, year after year, they would soon be bankrupt. If that hill was treated and stood the traffic, he was confident they would soon do the whole road. He estimated that it would cost £240 to do half' a mile, lCft wide. Even at .£SOO per mile it would pay to tar seal the roads, il it proved satisfactory, because, he pointed, out that it now cost £250 per mile to keep the roadin repair. After the road was treated, he did »ot think that it would cost £SO per mile per year to maintain it. The chairman considered that it would cost 25s per chain to maintain the roads. Cr. Connett considered that the Eltluim county roads had not proved satisfactory. Cr. O. Andrews thought that 20 ehains would be sufficient for experimental purposes. Or. Morton considered that the council was bound to make the experiment. By putting down this 40 chains they would f

be able to test its value both oil the hill J and. the flat. If it proved a success it would have paid the Ornata riding to make the experiment. The chairman considered that they should test other systems as well as soltar. He agreed that something must be j done. It was wise to experiment on the ( hill. Motor traffic had come to stay, and t they must devise means to cope with it. ] The question was, which was the best ( method. The roads at present were quite able to cope with wheel traffic, but with c motor traffic it was u different proposi- t tion altogether. If the experiment stood £ on the South road it would stand anywhere in the county. i Cr. Binnie stated that at present it - was the wheel tracks that broke away, and tar sealing would prevent that. |*