FUTURE OF QUARRIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 248, 19 October 1937, Page 6

FUTURE OF QUARRIES

SHELL-ROCK OR CONCRETE? THE MATTER ADJOURNED DISCUSSION AT BOARD MEETING At yesterday’s monthly meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board considerable discussion ensued as to the future construction of the moles at the harbour entrance. It was considered by some members that shell rock was unsuitable for the work of constructing the moles and that concrete blocks, varying in weight from two and a-half to ten tons, were best for the purpose. The quarrying of stone at the quarries has reached the stage when it is becoming expensive through the extensive stripping necessary. It was decided to defer the matter until the next meeting of the board, when it will be decided what the future policy in respect to the quarries will be. i It was considered by Mr J. Patterson that shell rock was entirely unsuitable for the purpose it was being used, and quoted facts and figures to substantiate his claim for the use of concrete blocks. * An inspection of the quarries was made by members of the board ou Friday last, and a report was presented to the meeting by Mr W. J. Rogers, the chairman. It read as follows : “Those members who made the trip on Friday last will have tlrst-hanc knowledge of the position at the quarries and those who did not will no doubt, get a general idea of the position from the views of those who did. I think it must be admitted that the conditions are not as good as they might, be, but this is not the fault ofthe board's engineer or the workers employed at the quarry. There seems to be a fair face of stone at present exposed, but unfortunately a large quantity of stripping will require to be removed before this stone can be made available. From the indications it would look as if the stone ran back into the gully at the rear i of the face now being worked. The I quarrying of stone has reached a stage when it is becoming fairly expensive to obtain. Against this we have to remember that we are receiving a Government subsidy of £2 10s per man per week which reduces the nett costs to the board. “Concrete blocks are now being manufactured at a reasonable cost and would appear to be eminently satisfactory for the building of the moles. “The engineer states that in order to make the best job of the moles, it is necessary to use shell rock as well as concrete blocks. The difficulty that is met with here is the ability of the quarry to produce stone of sufficient size for use in the moles. The result': show that the percentage of large stone delivered from the quarry is not as great as would be desired.

“In coming to a decision as to the policy to be adopted in connection with the quarry I think I should point out that the labour content employed in the manufacture of concrete blocks is very much less than that employed at the quarry and therefore the subsidy to be received would be less. However, the board is certain that by depositing 10-ton blocks, nothing but heavy blocks is used. “While the quarry may not be as satisfactory as members would like, it must be remembered that the labour content Is large and with the Government subsidy the nett cost is considerably reduced. “Without the assistance from the Government by way of subsidy it would not have been possible for the board to have carried out the job for the cost that it has. To September--30 last, the benefit the board received from this subsidy was £4547. “I would ask members to recall that early in this year the board found itself in serious financial difficulty regarding the carrying on of the werk. The Prime Minister was approached on the matter and he made available to the board means by which the work could be continued without interruption, and I feel that one of the main points in this matter, so far as the Prime Minister was concerned, was the fact that unless ways and means were found, a number of meh would be thrown out of employment. Now it may be that the board will again have to approach the Government before the work is completed and I would suggest that before any drastic step is taken regarding the quarry I would like the opportunity of again having a talk with the Prime Minister on the subject. If the matter is allowed to stand over until the next meeting of the board, the expense will not be great and no harm can result. I would therefore ask members to allow this course to be followed and a definite decision can be made at the November meeting.”