ROADING COSTS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1932, Page 6

ROADING COSTS

CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON. A COMPREHENSIVE' STUDY. (J\er Press Association — Copyright.) '5- WELLINGTON, July 27. Representatives of the Public Works Department, Main Highways Board, Transport Department, Audit Department, the Institute of County Clerks, and County, Engineers, and the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers are attending a conference which opened ejat Wellington to-day to ccnsicLr problems? connected with roading costs, principal objects are to' endeavour to establish a uniform system of cosfjng with regard to road expenditure, cand to collect a reasonable amount of traffic statistics to form a basis for a prosper study of roading problems, so that the maximum benefit will result frorp th'e' expenditure ct funds made- available. i

Mr- H. F- ToogOod representing a special ( committee of the society of Civil ..engineers Avas elected Chairman, and,-in |iis opening address, said that his?.' society’s committee. had arrived at [the conclusion : that, as far as it could ascertain, 2; traffic conditions now obtaining and likely to obtain in the next decade, warranted nothing more than the .adequate maitenanco of gravel fed roads, which should; be sealed or similarly treated as soon as traffic conditions warranted, and, even ,then. |i{ should, not be adopted without- very close examination" o'f J all the fngjqrs.. ;j 1 .„. _:

1 In regard to : the; necessity for some proper method of costing, he said that the money being spent on main highways was somewhat in the nature of frfilfii funds, ■ and it- was duetto everyonp concerned : that the true facts regarding posts ■ should be , brought t" light; Tliey sfeujd .not attempt too much Lut be content, for a start, ]to lay. ;stlQwn a -baT's, upon which elaboration; might*, be expended when opportunity''occurred. New .r.bnditioiis demanded a new out look, and County administration had to move ? with the times. Th? Conference would give/the opportunity to g:t together/ and /study the problem , r ’ r costing; land its / significance, and perhaps -layl the foundations for a more vigorous; more: /economical, and mo'e satisfactory county administration. Committees | jWere oppointed • to consider the' variousasp - f the problem.