THE MACHINERY LOAN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4676, 19 March 1924, Page 4

THE MACHINERY LOAN.

ADVOCACY BY COUNCIL. ITS ADVANTAGES outlined. Members or the Hauraki Plains County Council commenced the campaign for the machinery loan proposal at Pipiroa on Monday evening. The county chairman, Mr J. C. Miller, the riding member, Cr. C. W. Parfitt, the county clerk, Mr E. Walton, and the county engineer, Mr J. Higgins, were present. Mr Wallis presided over an attendance of about a dozen ratepayers.

The county chairman said that when the loan was last put before the ratepavers there were complaints that the settlers did not know about it. If that was the reason the evening would bo a profitable one. The council had gone fully into the question, and it was obvious that if the roads were to be dore with any speed more machinery was "required. The county had one set of machinery, but another set wa.s urgently required. Punts were' the principal items, and unless the loan was carried punts would in future have to be bought out of rates. Punts had been bought cheaply in the past, but they now cost over £lBOO each. Road work could not be done unless a loan was raised, and then the work could not be done unless th? county had machinery. Metal at present wa,s costing about 19s 6d landed on the river bank, and big works conld not be carried out at this cost fo’- metal. With its own punts the county was saving 33 1-3 per cent, on the Waihou river on the cost of metal. Contractors always thought that local bodies were fair game, and tried make them pay through the nos?. The class of traffic, and the abnormal increase in the amount, warranted a better class of road than w'a.s con-, sidcrcd necessary in the past. Up-to-date roads, required machinery for their construction, and the proposed machinery would enable the county to do the jobs thoroughly. Tf it paid contractors to obtain the requisite plant, surely, said Mr Miller, it would pay the county to acquire its own machinery and do its own work. The countv had many times called tenders, bn: had found that it could do the jobs at a saving of from 10 to 15 per cent Mr Miller asked the ratepayers L' thev could give any reason why the council should not be authorised to raise the loan.

Cr. Parfitt, said that the county had not, provided for all the machinery necessary in the first loan, hence the second loan. It had been said that Pipiroa riding had, at present, good roads and did not require anything at present. He pointed out that the roads would not last much longer, and the opening of the bridge in a few years would mean an enormous increase in through traffic. He had gone into the local aspect thoroughly, and found that it would be bad business to bring metal from the Waitakaruru quarry, as had pften been suggested.

The count)’ engineer said that >t had only been during the last few months that enough metal had been received, above that necessary for maintenance, to do any permanent work. At the present rate of supply there was only enough metal arriving to do three miles of permanent work a year. Unless the council was given authority to acquire more machinery the cost of work would be high and the rate of progress slow. QUESTIONS. Tn reply to Mr Torr the engineer said that if teams were utilised to cart metal to Pipiroa from Waitakaruru quarry the roads would be cut up. It would be a bad business pro-, position.

Mr Goldthorp asked if a saving of thirty-three and one-third per cent, on contracts would be worth the county going into the purchase of machinery.

The county chairman replied that it would, and quoted cases of tenders received on which a saving of almost 100 per cent, had been made. The' engineer stated that the cost of crushed metal into the hopper at Hikutaia was 4s, whereas the private firms at Thames charged 10s or Ils per yard. Haulage from Hikutaia by the county averaged 2s 6d, whereas private firms charged about 7s 6d. The comparison was, however, hardly fair, as it did not include maintenance of punts and interest on the money invested.

The chairman said that certain areas were cut out of the loan, and would receive no, benefit whatever from the machinery to be bought un-’ less they paid for it just as they would pay to a private company. The advantages of the Maukoro quarry

were obvious. It would not be affec.ed by the weather, and the tide would not affect the towing much. Metal could be delivered right down the centre of the county. The time would come—and very shortly—when there would be a cry from all parts for metal. Even if the quarry did not produce all that was required, the fact of having it would keep the price down.

The engineer pointed out that the Ohinemuri county was glad to take metal from the Hikutaia quarry at any time, and that the Piako county would be glad to purchase Maukoro metal when the quarry was opened Up-

In reply to Mr Torr the clerk said that the rates on the Plains were less than those in the Thames and Ohinemuri counties, but the figures for the cost of administration were not available. The cost of raising a loan-was one per cent., plus about £5 for bank expenses. The cost of administration was not charged to a loan.

The engineer stated that both the quarries had been well tested, and there was no doubt that there was enough metal in them for very many years. The Public WoYks Department engineer had examined' the Hikutaia stone and expressed himself as being very pleased with its quality. The Mankoro quarry bad not been inspected to his knowledge, but he was sure that there was no better metal in tli/i neighbourhood. The chairman pointed out that the proposed loan would not be itemised, •so' the trouble of the last loan, would not occur again. There was a. large amount in that loan that it was not possible to raise. The items suggested were for opening up and equipping the quarry, and for road-making machinery. Of the old loan £20,000 only had been raised.

Mr Keane said that it would be some years before the bridge would be opened, so the road would last for some time.

Cr. Parfitt said that there were other parts of. the county that required the machinery much more than Pipiroa riding, so it would be some years before the machinery would come to the riding.

The engineer pointed out that there was not much likelihood of the price of machinery dropping below the present level. However, the proposed loan included a big sum that would be spent in the erection and construction. The present was as opportune a time as any in which to buy the plant.

. nl reply to Mr Keane the clerk explained that where a grant, say, for a bridge, was made by the Government, the work was paid for out of the general account and charged against the whole of the county according to the valuations of. the ridings until the grant was actually received, when an adjustment was made. This procedure was governed by the Counties Act, and could not oe altered.

In reply to Mr Keane the chairman said that the Highways Board would not provide machinery to make roads in that county, but would lequire the county to do the work with its plant to the detriment of the other roads. Cr. Parfitt pointed out that not only was there the question of cost, but there was the question of getting tenders. Unless the county provided such things as punts and tramlines there was not the least possible chance of getting any tenders. The Turua Town Board had lately experienced the trouble of getting metal owing to its lack of transport facilities.. .

In moving a vote of thanks to the speakers Mr Wallis said that there was no doubt that the loan proposal deserved support on the 29th. The motion was carried by acclamation.

In returning thanks the countv chairman said that if any ratepayer had any reason why the proposal should not be supported the ebimcil would be glad to hear it. Cr. Parfitt reminded the ratepayers that the statutory period in which current rates were to be paid lapsed a few days before the poll. He did not wish to sec any of his riding disfranchised.