GETTING BUSY

Evening Star, Issue 19781, 3 February 1928, Page 8

GETTING BUSY

PENINSULA COUNTY COUNCIL ROAD IMPROVEMENTS COMING Perhaps the Peninsula county councillors were a little too hard on themselves yesterday afternoon, when, after wading laboriously through a pile of correspondence which demanded very little discussion, they suddenly woke up to the fact that much time had been wasted, and gave vent to hearty selfdenunciations. Apparently they overlooked the fact that the red-hot sun which streamed in through the window’s of the council chamber all the morning and for the better part of the afternoon had created an impossibly sluggish atmosphere. Towards the close ol the meeting, when the temperature was cooler, Cr J. J. Malcolm, ably assisted by Cr D. J. Robertson, brought up business concerning improvements to the Beach road which resulted in four useful motions being fired with the suddenness of a machine gun. As nearly as could he judged without the aid of a stop watch the four resolutions were passed in as many minutes. Firstly, on the motion of Cr Robertson, it w'as decided that a grader and a two-ton truck be secured for the purpose of carrying out road improvements. Secondly, it was resolved that Crs H. Macandrew', R. Morrison, J. J. Malcolm, and the inspector (Mr S. G. Paterson) he appointed a committee to discuss the council’s financial position, with a view to carrying out the improvements. Thirdly, another motion of Cr Malcolm’s was carried to the effect that the stonecrusher should be got into working order and made use of at once. And, fourthly, it w'as decided that the special finance committee should approach the Main _ Highways Board to see what assistance could be secured from that quarter. Cr Malcolm, in the. course of the meeting, asked what was going to ho done to the Beach road, which was nothing but a succession of potholes. He considered it was up to the council to do something. Cr Morrison: “ What is the Highways Board going to do in the matter of subsidy? 1 was not at the conference, and have had no report on it. What did the hoard do about it?” The Chairman: “Nothing.” The advice of the inspector was sought, Mr Paterson replying that he would like to see the road crowned up with rotten rock and topped off with a layer of good quality rock. Cr Morrison:- “What sort of plant would be required?” Mr Paterson: “We would require a grader of some sort.” In answer to a question from Cr Robertson he stated that £9,000 or £IO,OOO would cover everything. Cr Lewds; “Would the job be permanent?” Mr Paterson: “As long as the maintenance metal was kept up.” Cr Macandrew said that the traffic of the road was increasing, and the surface could not stand it much longer. Cr Morrison agreed with the inspector concerning the rotten rock treatment. The road would carry the rock easily, provided it was well crowned and watertight. There was any amount of it available. Cr Malcolm: “Is it not possible for Mr Paterson to get a crusher which could crush our own stone? I can’t for the life of me see why we should not get going.”- If the road were not put in order it would mean the ruination of the Peninsula Motor Company. Ratepayers, motorists, and others were entitled to the road. Cr Robertson suggested that a grader be purchased—an economical grader that would be most suited to the work entailed. He was supported by Crs Malcolm and Morrison, the latter asking if they were going to do their own haulage or pay outsiders. The motoring people were prepared to pay for the roads, and they were certainly entitled to get them. The council, which had a policy, should get on with the work. He added that they needed a truck, a scarifier. and a steam engine. In answer to a question Mr Paterson said , a two-ton truck would be necessary. Cr Malcolm: “ We waste too much time here going through paltry corresponded.: Our job must be to see.

that people get roads as cheaply as possible. It has to be done.” Or Robertson : “ That is what w© are here for, and the ratepayers are counting on us.” •Voice: “Oh, no, they are not. The Chairman: “The truth lies somewhere about halfway between. The majority of the ratepayers are not concerned much about the roads. With the exception of some residents on the waterfront they are concerned mainly with the rates. Lots of people on the top road don’t care what ihe roads are like as long as the rates don’t go up,” Cr Robertson strongly denounced the old methods of road"construction. If the council were to get anywhere it must purchase modern machinery; The Chairman agreed with Cr Malcolm’s criticism of, the council’s progress in dealing with the business of the meetings. ‘ The correspondence could be dealt with in . much quicker time. . After that the four motions referred to above were passed without further discussion, the inspector stating that a two-ton truck would cost £6OO.