NEW ROADS POLICY.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15998, 29 May 1924, Page 6

NEW ROADS POLICY.

COUIMCSL ADOPTS REPORT.

FOUR NEW TRUCKS AUTHORISED.

PURCHASE OF RIVER SHINGLE.

A clause in the Works Committee's report, read at last night's meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council, recommended that the proposals contained in the chairman'sreport (recently published in exienso hi Wa'ikato Times) be adopted, subject to any necessary alteration in detail or variation in the order of works: that the immediate purchase of four 30 cwt. trucks be authorised, and that the matter be left in the. hands of the chairman and eneineer with power to act. It was further recommended that tenders be called for the supply of river shingle and the drawing of the notice be left in the hands of the engineer; that the chairman, engineer and any members of the Works Committee be authorised to go to Otorohanga or Te Kuiti in connection with the supply of river shingle. Cr. W. F. Mason questioned whether 1 the adoption of the recommendations would not commit, the Council too far. With regard to the use of river shingle he understood that, sealed with bitumen, roads formed of this would have a life equal to bitumen penetrated roads. This would mean that all the roads would require renewing at the same time. This would throw a severe burden on the council in office at the time. Would it not be wiser, he asked, to continue Avith the scheme as originally laid down. The Mayor, Mr J. R. Fow, suggested that the report should be adopted with certain reservations, and that these be dealt with by the Council in committee next week, when the estimates would be gone into.

Mr P. H. Watts, chairman of the Works Committee, said the Council had already spent in one and a-half months this year over £IBOO on maintenance, to little effect. He was opposed to any delay in putting the new policy into effect. Cr. Watts was supported by Crs. Webb, Rollett, Farrer, McKinnon, de la,' Mare, Denz and Gilbert.

The majority of the speakers complimented Cr. Watts on his able report. Cr. McKinnon spoke of the great utility of river shingle, and said that nowhere in the borough where this kind of metal had been used had it been found to work into pot-holes-. Cr. Rollett declared, in regard to the purchase of the trucks, that the day of the horse was over, and it was essential in the interests of economy to supplant horse-drawn vehicles on many of the borough works by motor vehicles.

Cr. .T. Gilbert, while favouring the adoption of the report, said the adoption of Cr. Watts' policy would have a direct, bearing on the rates. He mentioned that it might be wise to institute a special 1 per cent, sinking fund, so as to pay off the loan during the life of the roads.

Cr. Brind- suggested that as' the Council had on a previous occasion declared itself British, it should show its loyalty now and buy English trucks on this occasion.

Asked if he approved of the new policy, the engineer, Mr W. Stevens 1 , declared that he did.

Replying to questions, Cr. Watts said he thought that, bought in large quantities, river shingle could be procured cheaper, than in the past. If gone on with the committee would get samples of the metal from the contractors and keep the latter up to their samples. As to the nationality of the trucks, he would be very pleased to purchase four of British make if the Council would sanction the cost and any councillor could suggest suitable British trucks, procurable within a fortnight. The report was adopted. y|