ROAD MAINTENANCE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 58, 27 May 1942, Page 5

ROAD MAINTENANCE

COUNTY COUNCIL'S CONCERN APPLICATION FOR TRACTOR TYRES Writing the Whakatane County Council yesterday the. secretary of the N.Z. Counties' Association stated that during the past three Aveeks, tAvo important factors in road maintenance, viz. impressment of lorries and a threatened shortage of rubber tyres for roading equipment had been brought under his notice. A communication Avas directed to the Minister of Public Works who ay as to confer Avitli his colleagues, the Hon. Minister of Transport and of Supply on the whole problem of road maintenance, seeing that good roads are imperative for the mobility of troops, their guns, and their transport. The secretary also conferred with olficialsi of the Department of Industries and Commerce emphasising the need for Counties to have adequate rubber tyres, and the following points were stressed to the Minister of Public Works: — (1) As few County trucks asi possible should be commandeered for Army. (2;) Those that, are cominandered for Army should not 'be taken from Counties until the last possible minute. (3) As little hindrance as possible shouM be put in. the Avay of, County Councils getting tyres: for their trucks and graders, and usahg their stock on hand Avhen required. The special Tyre Advisory Committee in Wellington has recommended that the various Petrol Advisory Committees should deal with applications for tyre permits. Up to the present, the rationing of tyres had been dealt Avith by the. Traffic Inspectors attached to the Transport Department, but the commercial tyre position is now so serious that it is fel't that some semMudicial authority should be available to determine applications. This would ensure that the present limited supply of tyres is distributed. 1 to the Jaes't advantage.. After a brief discussion the council! resolved that the Acting-Engineer make application forthwith: for tractor tyres.