ROADING COSTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 176, 28 July 1932, Page 8

ROADING COSTS

A UNIFORM SYSTEM fcOCAL BODY MEN MEET THE COLLECTION OF DATA WELLINGTON, July 27. Eepresentatives of the Public Wo.rks Department, the Main Highways Board the Transport Department, the Audit Department, the Institute of County Clerks, County Engineers, and the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers are attending a conference which opened in Wellington to-day to consider problems connected with roading costs. The principal objects of the conference are to endeavour to establish a uniform system of costing with regard to road expenditure and collect a reasonable amount of traffic statistics to form the basis for the proper study of roading problems, so that the maximum benefit will result from the expenditure oi the funds made available. Mr. H. F. Toogood, representing a special committee of the Society of Civil Engineers, was elected chairman of the conference. In his opening remarks. Mr. Toogood said that his society recently considered a preliminary report from a committee set up by it to investigate the question of economics of rural roads, in which it was stated that under the present system of keeping costs and statistics it was difficult to ascertain the true comparative values of various tvpes of road surfaces. The committee, however, arrived at the conclusion that, as far as it could ascertain, the traffic conditions now obtaining, and likely to obtain in the next decade, warranted nothing more than adequate raintenance of gravel roads which ihoull be sealed or similarly treated as soon as the traffic conditions warranted. 11 was shown that more costly types of surfacing were not warranted except in isolated cases, and even then should not be adopted without a very close examination of all the factors. •<ln order to determine accurately the proper expenditure and the types of surfaces warranted for the known traffic conditions, ,f said Mr. Toogood, 4 4 the system of costing of maintenance and construction must be such that comparisons are made easily and such information should be kept in as uniform a manner as possible. Similarly traffic statistics should be kept in a uniform and systematic manner. It is only by adopting proper systems by which comparisons can be easily made that the fullest value can be obtained from practical experience or scientific experiments. It must be quite obvious that uneconomical expenditure can be made without easy detection unless some proper method of costing is adopted, and as the money that is being spent on main highways is somewhat in the nature of trust funds, it is due to everyone concerned that the true facts regarding costs should be brought to light.’’ Cost of Local Government Mr. Toogood said that to introduce new systems might take some time, and perhaps would cause some irritation, but if care were taken to adop' rhe simplest effective methods, the conference would do much to bring about changes in the smoothest manner, and in the shortest time. They should nor attempt too much elaboration, but should be content for the start to lay down a basis upon which elaboration occurred. To those who had studied road economics one very obvious psy chological fact obtruded, and that was apart from any other consideration, fair and reliable comparisons between various local bodies would stimulate all to achieve the best possible results, and also establish local govern ment on a firmer basis. If the collection of statistics and uniformity oi costing in a manner best suited for comparisons and the determination of value received was not carried out willingly by those now in charge of local government, it might possibly be made compulsory, or the present system of local government might be considerably amended in order that better co-ordination was attained. New conditions demanded a new outlook and county administration had to move with the times. Already the question was frequently asked if they were obtaining full value from local government expenditure, and official enquiries were being made generally into the subject of such administration. With the lack of knowledge which tow existed regarding value received cor road expenditure, county adminisration was open to severe attack, and uose interested in seeing that useful Form of government attain its fullest levelopment should bestir themselves and show that they were prepared to move with, the times. From his own knowledge there were many men, county clerks, and engineers, and also members of councils, who recognised that, but were waiting for some united consideration to determine the best way to act.

Laying The Foundation. ••The present conference,” said Mr. Toogood, “will give f hose so inclined in opportunity to get together and study the problem of costing and its dgnificance, and perhaps lay the founlations for more vigorous, more economical, and more satisfactory county administration. Whether times be good >r bad there is no excuse for uneconomical expenditure, and apart from any other consideration it is our duty to give our best efforts towards attaining true economy. True economy does not lie necessarily in stopping or curtailing all work. It can be shown that the opposite is the case in some cases n regard to roading problems. True economy is attained by reducing the iotal costs including in this case that >f road user, or giving better service for the same expenditure. It can be shown that within certain fairly definite limits road improvements of a reasonable nature will so reduce vehicular operating costs as to repay the expendiure on improvements many times over. Lt is possible by means of judicious expenditure to return to the mptor tax payer, by means of reducing vehicular operating costs, a very large proportion if the amount collected in taxation. That instead of being an added financial burden, motor taxation which is * tent in tfap manner it should be may !»<• of definite value to the taxpayer quite apart from any amenities which follow. Saving Money. Ju order to make this quite ciear one two outstanding instances are quoted ui'.'tor lehi Jes are considered it w. I

as follows:—If the operating costs of be found that by changing the surface of the road from gravel in its ordinary condition to what is termed tar-sealed or dustless surface, a saving in operating costs of about £l2O per mile per year per 100 motor vehicles per day will follow. To many this may appear a remarkable statement, but the facts are fairly clear, and have been checked by both New Zealand and foreign experience, and they are put forth on this occasion to indicate what could be achieved in roading economy by proper consideration of all factors. Another rather arresting fact arising from the consideration of shortening of route lengths: The average cost of operating vehicles of all sizes amounts to about 4d per mile, and for each .100 motor vehicles per day this amounts to £6OB per mile or £76 per chain per year. In other words, the decreasing of route length by one chain means a saving of £76 per year for each 100 motor vehicles per day. Taking the Wellington-Pal-merston North Main Highway with 400 motor vehicles per day, a decrease of on? chain in route length saves tbe sum of £3OO per year in motor operating costs. “While these are two outstanding instances met with in dealing with the question of roading economics, one is frequently brought in touch with similar situations, all requiring reliable statistics to bring them into proper focus and to complete the study of the problem and arrive at proper conclusions. It has been said that our present method of carrying out road improvements is to follow natural or artificially inspired impulse to get, things done, and sit down afterwards and scratch our heads to discover their true economical value. Whatever may he the truth concerning the past we have had sufficient warnings that such methods, if they did exist, cannot eon tinue, unless of course, we are prepared to let things slide to a final smash. “The Conference therefore has a job which if properly dealt with may have a verv far-reaching effect on the future of roading and county administration.” After a general discussion, during which it was agreed there was a need for uniformity, committees were appointed to consider various aspects of the problem.