BITUMEN OR METAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4823, 16 March 1925, Page 1

BITUMEN OR METAL.

DISCUSSION ON DULCIE STREET. CR EDWARDS OPPOSED TO COST. Arising out of the decision to bituminise Dulcie Street, which work was approved of in the works committee’s report presented at Thursday night’s meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council, Or. Edwards said that in view of the state of the borough’s finances and the difficulty in obtaining sufficient quantities of suitable metal he thought the council would be justified in not laying the street down in bitumen.. Instead, he was of the opinion that all requirements would be met by the street being me.talled, rolled, and blinded. In support of his contention Cr. Edwards said that there were so many streets which had to carry much more traffic than .the one in question, and a saving should be effected on the) smaller streets and the money thus saved could be spent bn the- main thoroughfares and Puke Road. Cr. Klatt agreed.

The Mayor said he was strongly opposed to the suggestion, as the difference (saved in the capital cost of doing the street in bitumen would quickly be swallowed up by maintenance charges on a metalled rbad. He was strongly in favour of putting down bitumen and so prolonging the life of the road and reducing to a minimum the ever-recurring maintenance costs. '■

Cr. Silcock agreed that it would be unwise to depart from the original policy to bituminise the street, especially when the formation work had been done and the necessary materials were on the site.

Cr. Flatt considered that by spending the money on the. street the principal thoroughfares would accordingly suffer.

His Wonship remarked that the council would be judged by what it had done, and he favoured handing down io posterity even lesser streets permanently put down, thereby showing a decrease in maintenance. In the event of Dulcie Street not being bituminised a footpath would have to be provided; He pointed ou.t that if maintenance charges were reduced the general rate would be conseivol. It was the future economy that had to me considered. ■:

Cr. Edwards said it appeared ridiculous to him to bituminise a street only three chains in length, which bore .little traffic, only served two residences, and really led from “nowhere to nowhere.” A first-class street was not warranted.

The Mayor corrected Cr. Edwards, pointing out that even if bitumenised it woul.d not be classed as a -first-class street.

Cr. Lamb said that if metal only was put down the maintenance charges would soon exceed the capital cost of putting it down in bitumen. Cr. Brenan said he had consistently voted against the formation of streets policy which the present council had in vogue. To go on in the present manner would mean that the ratepayers would have to find an amount approaching £60,000. Such a sum would not be considered by the ratepayers. Although he had objected to the policy all along, he was not prepared to see the council go back on a former resolution to bituminise ' the road, ami if Cr. Edwards moved a resolution he would not favour it.

The Mayor said that it would be necessary for Cr. dEwards to give notice of he intended to move in that direction.

Cr. Edwards then moved as an amendment to the works committee’s report that Dulcie Street be metalled, rolled, and blinded.

The amendment was then put without further discussion and declared lost on the voices.