BITUMEN ROADS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1923, Page 1

BITUMEN ROADS.

A XKAY DKi’AIITUIE. j UY TEl.l'.Clt.UMl- PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WKi.I.IN'CTON, December 10. An important annonneement was made l.y the Minister of I’nblic Works to-day with reference to the bitumen SO alini' of roads to protect the capital cist which had been sunk in them. Mi Coates ,-tatcd that a poition of the Wiiarerata-Wairoa load which is the main road liom (lishorne. was to he scaled with hitiiinen over the lull metal width, for the distance of 15 miles. Tliis was the first work of the kind to 1,0 undertaken by the J’uhlie WorkDepartment in the Dominion, but the same procedure would he followed in mlmr parts of New Zealand where nrlumstanees warranted it. ‘We me not wailing for the Highway Hoard to net jvi.jno." said the Minister, who added that, after conferences with his ofii (.■!> iliev laid come to the conclusion that, to ieduce the dunces of road maintenance considerably, there was nothing tor it but to put down bitumen surfaces on certain roads. Ihe cost m the work could he apportioned between the local bodies concerned, and the Covernmoiit. In regard to the Wai-roa-Whaieiata. Hoad, the Minister said that so much money had been spent in capital expenditure and in laying the mad foundation, and the distance over which the material for repairs had to b'.i. hauled was so great, that it hud been found absolutely necessary to proceed with bitumen sealing in order to protect the capital expenditure. Bitumen scaling showed a very great saving maintenance charges, where a sum s;iv 0.T.1.000 had been spent on the I-I.mi and bv covering the siirlace with bitumen, it'was possible to reduce the mainteiiamc charges over particular lengths from £2OO to £25. Then there ,vas no argument about the wisdom of adopting bitumen surfacing, ft was no u«.y» ii it-to: inir away nionov hero «UKI t horo lor re]-airs c; 11 metnlitMi romis m v.-hieli a large amount of capital had l,ce. sunk. ’ "It Ls all a nuestion of e( ouomics.” remaiked the 51 mister. -Wlnrever our capital cost is such that ,t is nece-saiy to protect it. we will Imve to take action, as ill the case of tim sV:iiroa-Wharerat a Hoad.”