PERMANENT ROADS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 54, 1 September 1926, Page 8

PERMANENT ROADS

(To tho Editor.)

Sir,— Referring to the published statement regarding the, relative cost of concrete and bitumen roads, it may be of interest to know that there are approximately 64,000 road miles in New Zealand. At present about 640 miles are down in bitumen, or are tar-sealed, and only about GO miles down in concrete. It will be remembered that when the "good roads" campaign commenced in 1923, cement was £8 per ton (it was £7 2s per ton the year before). With such prices ruling for cement, bitumen roads were recommended, and thi expenditure approved, resulting in much of New Zealand's, public -money going out of the country, Fortunately, since the "good roads" campaign commenced, the price of cement in New Zealand has fallen to £5 2s per ton, and is now more likely to further recede: than to advance iii price, which factor is bringing the cost of cement construction to a near level to that of bitumen.

With these conditions rulinor, it is probable that engineers will find it difficult to recommend eu much of the imported nrticle, for it is generally understood that roads wade of concrete, with merely a akin of bitumen surfacing, are likely, with many advantages, to come into greater favour. An indication of this is already reflected in the decisions come to by the various local authorities in and naar Auckland, whoso reabons will no doubt be closely analysed by others interested in this important national question.—l am, etc., A. M. ADAMS. Ist September.