Metalling Of Pukepapa Road To Be Done “This Side Of Christmas”

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 November 1949, Page 4

Metalling Of Pukepapa Road To Be Done “This Side Of Christmas”

Re-metalling of the Pukepapa Road should start “this side of Christmas,” stated the county engineer (Mr. H. Murray-Reid), when replying to a question at a meeting of county ratepayers in Marton on Tuesday night. Mr. P. Frederick recalled that some time a deputation had waited on the council seeking improvements to Pukepapa Road and certain promises bad been made that more metal would be placed on this road. Up to the present nothing had been done. If the council made a promise it should carry it out, said Mr Frederick.

As soon as the contractor had finished his present job 800 yards of metal would be placed on Pukepapa Road from the borough boundary to the South Makirikiri Road, said Cr. A. S. Coleman. Eight hundred yards would not make a complete job but it would help. He said that Federated Farmers could assist the . county by pressing the Main Highways Board to declare this road a main highway. Reviewing county expenditure on roads, the engineer said that the council this year had cut down his estimates by £20,000. It was not possible to spend as much on roads as he would have liked. The cost of metalling Pukepapa Road was 15s 6d a yard. He told the meeting, however, that in the No. 2 Highways District Parewanui Road was number one priority for declaration as a main highway and Pukepapa Road was now number two.

An example of spiralling costs was given by Mr. Alex Stuart, who said that in his contracting days his estimate of 3s 3d a yard for metalling was considered too high and it had to be reduced to 2s lOd. Today the work was costing 15s 6d a yard. Mr. J. B. S. Dudding suggested that the county run its own fleet of lorries for road metalling. A number of contractors had started up from nothing and were now applying for more licences. If it was so profitable couldn’t the county run its own carrying fleet, lie asked. ’ For the county to undertake its own metal carting it would mean the pur-chasing-of at least six lorries, which would cost about £BOOO, said Mr. Reid. Then drivers and equipment were wanted, and there was also the question of maintenance. He estimated that a capita! outlay of £15.000 would be required for the council to operate its own plant. “It would be a sad day if the council ran its own lorries,” commented Mr. W. C. Whittington. The overhead cost of a fleet of lorries would be enormous. It was better for the council to leave the work to contractors.