MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1924, Page 6

MAIN HIGHWAYS.

TARANAKI COUNCIL MEETS. METHOD OF TAXATION. TESTING WEAR ON ROADS. The monthly meeting of the No. 7 (Taranaki) District Highways Council was held at Stratford yesterday. Present: Messrs. T. M. Ball (chairman), W. C. Green (Egmont), J. B. Murdoch (Hawera), C. J. Belcher (Eltham), A. Corkill (Inglewood), and R. H. Pigott (Clifton). A letter was received from the Main Highways Board suggesting that tlie council .should reduce the number of meetings to approximately two in a year. The council had previously resolved to meet once a month, and as the members thought that little good could be achieved by such occasional meetings, it was decided to adhere to monthly meetings. The Eltham County Council wrote to the effect that its members unanimously disapproved of a petrol tax. and considered a tyre tax was most suitable for providing revenue. Mr. Belcher expressed himself strongly in favour of a flat rate for cars. It was finally decided that the letter be forwarded to the Main Highways Board for consideration. The only new proposal received was from the Waimate West County Council. for a new bridge on the Kapuni Road, at an estimated cost of £2200. It was decided to forward the application to the Main Highways Board. With regard to testing the quality and lasting power of roads, the chairman suggested that the various county Engineers should make experimental cuts in the roads to determine how the roads were standing up to the traffic. Some councils were constructing roads with metal nine inches deep, w.hile others, such as the Taranaki County Council, were laying down about four or five inches and sealing the roads with bitumen. The latter procedure appeared to be satisfactory, but only investigation could afford sound proof. It was foolish to use the greater depth of metal if less would suffice. Other members agreed with Mr. Ball, and it was decided to communicate with the various county engineers requesting them to make an examination on the lines indicated whenever roads were taken up for re-metalling or improvement. The chairman pointed out that if any of the county councils decided to embark on any project of magnitude affecting main highways, it would be advisable to forward to the Main Highways Board an outline of the scheme, with a rough estimate of the cost and time required to complete, before actual details were drawn up. By this means authority to proceed with the work Avon Id often be given by the Highways Board in advance, and an earlier start could be made.