DAMAGE TO COUNTY ROADS

Chronicle (Levin), 23 April 1946, Page 3

DAMAGE TO COUNTY ROADS

— . Press AssociaiJon

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HAMILTON, April 20. "A eonsiderable amount of fertiliser carting has been takiiig place in the northern portion of the Waikato County," said thc overseer, Mr. G. G. Winter, in his report to a meeting of the council. He said that owing to the . scarcity of railway trucks, motor \ ehicles had been delivering fertiliser and most of tliose stoppcd by traffic inspectors had been overloaded for the road classiiication. Thc drivers of tliose vchicles which caiuc from Auckland were not conversant witli the districts or the classes of roads tliey had to traverse and warniugs had been issued to olfenders. The council received a letter from the Transport Department stating that several bridgcs hae! been damaged by heavy traffic which exceeded the limit. A fertiliser company iu Otahuhu wrotc stating that it had' been askcd to deliver thc fertiliser by the Government, which was subsidisiug the service up to £3 per truck. Much of the fcrtilisers should have been delivered last September. If legal action were taken by any cotmty council the only alternativre for the company was not to deliver fertiliser to farmers in tliose areas. The Transport Department in Auckland also wrotc rcqucsting the council to be as lenieut as possible with offenders. "I realise that the carting of fertiliser by trucks is a uatioual emergency," said the county engincer, Mr. K. G. IIowcll. However, the damage to roads would be substantial, although it might not be apparent for several months. It was decided to write to the Transport Department and the fertiliser company stating that the council hoped thc difficulty would be overcome when Wai- ■ kato carriers, who were conversaut with the roads, commenced dcliveriug the fertiliser. However, if tlie loads were still oxcessive the council might have to prosecute oft'endcrs.