DUST AND DIN

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 128, 26 November 1929, Page 11

DUST AND DIN

UNSURFACED STREETS

ACTION BY COUNCIL

All unsurfaeed streets' in the city are to be examined by the City Engineer and an estimate of the cost of surfacing them is to be submitted to the City Council. This decision was reached at a special meeting of the council yesterday afternoon.

The question was raised by Councillor C. D. Morpeth, who drew attention to the condition of Austin street, which was being used as a testing ground for cars. There had been considerable complaints from the residents, who were annoyed by the eternal din of mo-tor-cars and by clouds of dust. He did not know whether the council had power to put a stop to the practice, but there was no doubt that a nuisance was being committed in what was once a quiet street. • The surface of the road was being ruined. The Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) said there was not a day when lie did not receive some complaint regarding the condition of streets in the city. The residents of every street were ,anxious that their street should be surfaced or paved. He doubted whether the council had power to prevent people from testing oufr their cars on city streets, and he suggested that the whole matter should be referred to the Works Committee.

Councillor E. A. AVright stated that sooner or later the council would haveto face the question of surfacing those streets which had not already received attention. Each year saw an increase in the number of cars, with an attendant increase in the dust nuisance. What was needed was an additional loan to surface all those streets.

Councillor C. H. Chapman said every street carrying traffic should receive attention.

Councillor F. Meadowcroft: "That work is in hand now.".

Councillor Chapman: "I am glad to hear. that.from a member of the Works Committee." What was needed was a comprehensive plan, so that it would be known what surfacing was going to cost this year, next year, and so on. The opinion was expressed by Coun-' cillor W. T. Hildreth that they would not get the full .benefit of the surfacing that had. already-been, done until the whole of the streets were paved or sealed. He agreed that a further loan should be raised and a comprehensive scheme undertaken.

Councillor B. Semple referred to the manner in which the bitumen track between Wellington road and Oriental Bay had been chipped by tho action of a traction engine. "■ He thought the day of the macadam road had gone. It was usoless patching up toads with rotten roftk; it was simply a waste of money. The position had to be faced sooner or later, and ho thought the City Engineer should be instructed to make an examination of the various unpaved streets and submit an estimate as to the cost of putting them, in order. The Mayor agreed that the engineer should furnish .a report, but tho council should realise that if all the uusurfaced streets were tar-sealed the cost would be about £200,000. That would involve an annual interest payment of £20,000, an amount which could riot be found without an increase in the rates. As matters were, he did not think tho council desired to increase the rates.

It was decided to obtain a report from the City Engineer.