SHORTAGE OF LABOUR DELAYING RANGITIKEI COUNTY BRIDGE WORKS

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 November 1949, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF LABOUR DELAYING RANGITIKEI COUNTY BRIDGE WORKS

MARTON, Last Night (S.R.). — Difficulties experienced in obtaining sufficient labour for bridge repairs and replacements in the Rangitikei County were referred to by the engineer, Mr. H. MurrayReid, during a discussion on loading limits for traffic at the monthly meeting in Marton today.. Advertisements had been published calling for bridge carpenters, he said, but no response had been received. This would probably slow up bridge repairs and interfere with road maintenance as the labour needed would have to be found from the council’s own em ployees. Before the council was a lettei from the Hunterville branch of Federated Farmers setting out two resolutions arising out of a conference be tween farmers and county representatives, when the question of weight restrictions imposed on county bridges was discussed. In on e resolution, the Hunterville branch offered to assist the council with repairs to the West Road and Mangahoi Road Bridges, considered the most important work in the district. The county engineer, in the second resolution, was urged to re-classify all bridges in the Hunterville district and. where possible, bring gross load limits up to eight tons and eliminate limits on axle loads. ■'We had a meeting in Hunterville, but they seem to think that the council has a lot of money and materials locked up in a cupboard, a nd that it is just a matter of bringing them out.” said the chairman, Cr. K. W. Dalrymple. The engineer said he disliked the idea of reclassifying bridges. The chairman: It is not a matter of classification, but what the bridges will take. The engineer: I am more interested in the axle loan than the gross loan. It's the axle load that does the damage. The chairman said that the offer made by Federated Farmers to assist with labour and materials was appreciated and would be taken advantage of where possible. Cr. G. B. Chrystall said that the position regarding bridges was general throughout the county and did not apply to any particular locality alone. The engineer: For that matter, the position is not peculiar to Hunterville only. It is peculiar to the whole ot New Zealand. Cr. A. S. Coleman asked if bridge loads could be increased in some cases. Farmers would be satisfied if they could get reasonable loads over them. The engineer said he would inspect the Concrete Ford Bridge in the Turakina Valley, also discussed at the meeting, and, if possible, raise the load limit. Reducing loads, particularly where fat stock were concerned, could be very expensive for farmers, said Cr. J. R. L, Hammond. A suggestion was also made that the old concrete ford nearby should be used by cattle, instead of the bridge, and it was decided to investigate this possibility. Other decisions reached at the meeting were that the Mangahoi. Road Bridge and Blundell’s Bridge, on the Onga Road, be repaired. ’ Tenders are to be called for the renewal of culverts on the Wairepa East Road. Whangaehu Beach Road, Leedstown Road (two culverts) and Union Road, but before tenders are invited the Ministry of Works will be consulted.