WAI-ITI ROAD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20586, 27 November 1936, Page 8

WAI-ITI ROAD

RESURFACING BADLY NEEDED PROTEST AT DELAY A protest at the Borough Council's delay in resurfacing Wai-iti Road was registered at the annual meeting of the Automobile Association (South Canterbury) last night by Mr W. H. Walton. Mr Walton said he had brought the matter up two years ago. Since then the Association had waited on the Council with a request that Wai-iti Road. Stafford Street and part of the Main South Road be attended to. Stafford Street South and Ballantyne's hill had been resurfaced, but nothing had been done to Wai-iti Road. “I am wondering how long motorists are going to submit to the condition of that road.” he said. “Motorists must suffer some shock and danger through that surface and. as it is one of the most important roads in the borough, it should be done immediately.”

Cr. J. R. Hart explained that about 18 months ago a contractor had been doing sealing work at Winchester and the Council had secured him to resurface Stafford Street from North Street to the Old Bank corner. The engineer had been instructed that, it weather permitted, the work was to be continued up Ballantyne's hill, but a spell of wet weather had come along and the contractor had not wanted to keep his men and plant in the district for a day’s work as he had finished his job at Winchester. Personally, he did not think Wai-iti Road could be done satisfactorily until another contractor with the necessary mix was available. It was no good tearing up the road, putting on a lot of metal and asphalt and rolling it in. The surface always moved and it did not make a satisfactory job.

More Money Wanted

It was all a question of finance, said Cr. M. H. Richards. He supposed no one wanted the rates raised —he knew he did not—but if the Association waited a while till the Council had more money he was sure the work would be done. It was no good patching.

The obvious retort to Cr. Hart’s remarks was that Sanders, the contractor from Auckland, had been working at Winchester for a period of two years and apparently the Council had left their request until the last autumn he was in the district, said Mr Walton. On the question of finance, he said the Council had spent money in sealing a number of other roads which were not as important as Wai-iti Road. Mr Walton pointed out that a contract had recently been let for sealing work between Orari and the Rangitata, and suggested that that presented an opportunity of getting the work done. Cr. Hart said that Sanders had had a special hot mix and he did not know whether the contractor referred to by Mr Walton would be able to do the work. It would cost the Council several thousands of pounds to mstal the necessary plant to make the mix for the job. The chairman (Mr S. G. McClelland) said the Association would bear the matter in mind and bring it before the Council again.