RACLAN COUNTY PLANT

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 14491, 14 October 1920, Page 6

RACLAN COUNTY PLANT

£SOOO WORTH AUTHORISED. COUNTY NEEDS DISCUSSED, REPORT BY THE ENGINEER. The Raglan County Council yesterday held a special meeting to discuss the question of procuring plant, for which the ratepayers of the County recently sanctioned a loan of £12,000 being raised.

The engineer i Mr G. It. King) reported that for the past month he had been making further enquiry into the subject of plant for county purposes and had come to the following conclu sions:—Touring launch and pontoons: For the present season I recommend the purchase of a 20-h.p. launch, aft'.r trial, and for the Council to buy a pontoon. At the same time we should put on order one four n.h.p. steamer and one r>o x in pontoon. Road roller an I scarifier: This is the only poiiit on which I have not cmne to any definite conclusion. Crushing plants: Two complete crushing plants should lie purchased. Transport: I have gone further into the tractor question, and find that the most suitable machine is th-3 one I recommend. Its speed is Ave miles per hour and it will haul 7 yards in two reversible trailers. Two tractors for grading plants are also required. The chairman (Cr. Johnstone) said that the loan had been carried by a substantial majority, which indicated that the larger portion of the ratepayers recognised that the Count/-must have plant if its work was to be done. It was explained that those who did not use the plant did not pay. Cr. Otway said that the great troubls was that the plant would be held so long in one end of the County that ether areas woSild be. neglected. As fiv as Waingaro and Te Akau were con cerned, it would be more advantageous for them to combine for the plant they required. That required a special rating district, which he quite acknowledged the loan recently carried did not permit. Cr. Otway asked where it was proposed to work the launches? The chairman replied that they would be utilised in bringing srinc;l" down both Waikato and VVaipa rivers from the pits. He pointed to the delflV that had previously been encountered in gelling supplies by private enterprise. Cr. Otway was of opinion that launches and pontoons were very perishable items. What Is Suited. The engineer explained his interest in getting the works going and of being in a position to keep them attended to. The best thing was a steamer for the river work, but that would cost £IOOO, and probably take 12 months to get. The launch referred to was under offer at a reasonable rate and he believed it would be very suitable. When the steamer was here the launch could be sold, and nothing lost by the transaction. His idea was to get the launch and pontoon and get moving. Cr. Otway asked if light motor lorries would not be more suitable than what the engineer recommended for haulage. The engineer replied that it was not possible to get all ttie plant needed for the whole of the County for £12,000.

Cr. Otway agreed that the money was rot sufficient for all the plant they would wish to buy. He reiterated that he would like to see the launch and pontoon wiped out. The rivers could not be worked in the summer time. The chairman, replying to the latter point, said that the previous experienct of the Council was that they could not get a man to take the river haulage on during the winter. Cr. Otway retorted that he would like to see two tip-lorries for metalcarting in Te Akau-Waingarn. They certainly required a roller, and probably a grader, to be kept entirely in the two ridings.

The engineer said that he had put before the Council what he considered was best suited to its requirements in the way of plant. The quarries, the roads and their condition for haulage had been considered, and be considered the trailer system the best suited. Lorries, to his mind, were not suited, taking everything into consideration The same tractor type as recommended for haulage would be suited for grader plant and for stone-crushing. Cr. Crawford said that it would be reasonable and fair to conclude from the engineer's report, which was so well supported by his statements and the data before the meeting, that the machinery he had recommended would do good work.

The engineer also went into detail concerning the various plant and the time it would take in securing the machines.

Cr. Swann proposed that a certain type of truck be purchased and placed on the Kauroa road. The truck was of a type in the country and could be secured with a minimum of delay, which work in this area demanded. Cr. Rawlinson seconded the motion. The engineer replied that he ha.l not gone into the truck question at all, as he did not consider them suited. No "Back-yard" Policy. Cr. Broughton said that the question of plant purchase should not be ;t "back-yard" one, but what was suited best for the whole county. Several Councillors passed congratulatory references to the engineer on the data he had submitted on the subject. Those supporting the truck for Kauroa argued that its purchase be dependant on a trial of a satisfactory nature. The delay that would be occasioned in going elsewhere was the horn' oi' contention, as their work whs urgent. The engineer explained that teams labour was being called, and the Council defeated the motion to effect the truck purchase. Cr. Cobourne explained that it must not be taken that the truck was turne 1 down definitely, but the point was thai they did not know sufficient about ;\ The engineer explained that the trailers would carry 3J yards each. After the investigation of | further general details, the Council approve! of the engineer's report and lefl the matter of purchase of plant with the engineer and chairman. It. was stated that the cost of the machinery sanctioned would be about £SOOO. The chairman said that it was a pity £24,000 was not raised. Councillors remarked that being the start, this was naturally more or less a matter of experiment, and the Coun cil could go in for the extra money later on when required. The meeting gave brief discussion !., the subject of Customs duty on plant, as referred to by the engineer in his original report, and the subject was referred to the chairman to make representations on in the pjght quarter.