WORKS AT A STANDSTILL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 208, 28 May 1920, Page 7

WORKS AT A STANDSTILL

FOR LACK OF CEMENT DIFFICULT TO KEEP MAINTENANCE GOING ■■■■'■<■'-

For some little time past citizens may have noticed that very littto in the way of new work was being dono by tho corporation staff, and big works in progress such as tho Oriental Bay Parade have been stopped altogether. Projected tramway track improvements round the Basin Reserve have not been' gono on with,' and the condition of tho. liambton Quay traok—raised six inches (between Grey Street and the Dominion Avenue) last December—has not been attended to. Why this entire stoppage of work on new works, or even urgent maintenance works, had come about, had been, up till recently, laid to the door of labour, whioh wag scarce for such work, owing to the good money being earned on the waterside and elsewhere. That may have beon partly the cause, but another very vital reason for the stoppage of city works was givon by the chairman'of the Outlying Districts Committee (Councillor L. M'lvcnzie) yesterday in replying to a deputation from the joseneath and Oriental Bay Municipal Electors' Association. Councillor M'Kenzie said that he was sorry to admit that he had almost insurmountable difficulties to contend with in attending to the work of the city. The greatest difficulty' they were up against wag that they could not get cement, not only could they not get it for Any new works, but now they were not receiving sufficient for maintenance. He had that afternoon spoken with a nian connected with the cement business and he had confessed that he saw no prospect of better conditions ahead. This wns a very vital matter to the city as well as' to every outlying district, where work had continually to be done. •

"Tho city," said Councillor M'Kensiie. "is at a standstill. The work of re-laying the rails round the Basin Reserve cannot be finished because there is no cement. Por the same reason the tramway work at Island Bay cannot proceed, and we have not even been able to attend to Lambton Quay, which is in a disgraceful condition] because wo can't get tho cement.

... I can only eay we are doing the best that we can. but the position is not satisfactory to the council nor to any member of tbe committee sitting round this table. It is.not a pleasant thing for mo or any member of tho council to have to say that we cannot accede tp even an urgent request, and ono we know to be legitimate. ... We are very sorry—it is very irksome to us to be unable to accede even to slight requests." Mr. T. Ward said that as a builder he was awaro of the very great difficulty that was being experienced by everyone in getting cement, and all they could hope was that their requests would be attended io whon tho necessary cement was obtainable.