PURCHASE OF PLANT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18539, 9 April 1930, Page 11

PURCHASE OF PLANT.

BY MACKENZIE COUNTY COUNCIL MAINTENANCE SYSTEM REORGANISED. As a result of two reports, submitted to Monday’s meeting of the Mackenzie County Council, by the engineer (Mr D. Jeune), the Council decided to reorganise its system of maintenance on the roads by purchasing two lorries, and a drag scoop, and a tractor for snow-clearing purposes in the Tekapo Riding. The engineer’s report, which was a lengthy one, outlined a working basis for a systematised organised county maintenance department. It was stated that it was not expectedrthat the suggested changes should all be made at once, but that the expense would cover a period of three years. The special committee, appointed to consider the purchase of plant reported that they recommended the purchase of one 2 ton truck, and also a lighter medium-priced lorry. They considered that a snow plough as outlined in the engineer’s special report on snow-clear-ing, and a 15 h.p. tractor, should be obtained for the Tekapo Riding, and a drag scoop for work on the TekapoPukaki Road. The chairman (Mr C. J. Talbot) said that the effect of the change was that the Council would have control of all plant, and the work would be charged against the riding accounts. The committee considered that the charges would be gradual, and that the expense would not be any larger than in the past. One of the main objects of the programme was to get more metal on the roads, and the crusher and reorganisation would have the effect of maintaining the roads as economically as possible. He moved that the report be adopted. This was seconded by Mr F. H. Buckley. Mr A. F. Campbell said that there had been some opposition to the heavy lorry in the past on the ground of expense. The lighter lorries had been tried, but it was found that they could not stand up to the work required. Now that the crushing plant was working satisfactorily it was necessary to provide a good lorry to feed the roads, which in his opinion, were hungry for shingle. Mr G. Murray: “You people have all been patting yourselves on the backs for suggesting this machinery, but in my opinion you are just starting and don’t know anything about it.” Mr Campbell: “And you know less.” (Laughter.) Mr Murray said he had paid for his experience with trucks, and he was not in favour of going ahead with so much machinery too soon. When the committee had been appointed to consider the matter, a man who was against machinery should have been included to see that things were done properly. The crusher was all right, but he was against the Council going ahead with all the other machinery in such a hurry. Mr W. Scott said that as one of the committee he was a “horse” man, and had voted for the proposal on the grounds of efficiency. The Tekapo Riding, which Mr Murray represented, had asked for machinery, and now they were going to get it. Mr Buckley said it was no good suggesting that the Council were mechanically mad, or that they wanted to recklessly squander the ratepayers’ money. He quoted an instance where it had been proved that lorry shingling by the Council had cost 2d per yard in comparison with 7/6 by contract, and could be done even less with the addition of a mechanical tip. Mr J. McCort said he did not know whether he could -claim any credit for the change over or not, but he did know that he received much abuse some time ago when he recommended the purchase of a power grader. “In fact,” said Mr CcCort, “one of the members, I think it was Mr Buckley, suggested I should be examined by a doctor.” (Laughter.) He was of opinion that the Council was at last on the right track, and he wished them every success.

Mr T. J. Seay said that he had been rather conservative on the matter of machinery, but he could see now that the present proposal was a good one. The motion was carried, Mr Murray dissenting, and asking to have his vote recorded.