THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE KAIPARA ADVERTISER & WAITEMATA CHRONICLE." HELENSVILLE, THURSDAY, July 27, 1916 HELENSVILLE TOWN BOARD.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 27 July 1916, Page 2

THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE KAIPARA ADVERTISER & WAITEMATA CHRONICLE." HELENSVILLE, THURSDAY, July 27, 1916 HELENSVILLE TOWN BOARD.

LIVE MEMBERS AND

CONCRETE

Now that the Town Board election is approaching, we think the time is opportune to broach the subject of the " Roadway of the Future," which means concrete for roads, bridges, and culverts of every description, and the members of local bodies who institute such an innovatio-n in any part of a district, deserve the recognition of the ratepayers everywhere. Macadam for roads is all right where there is plenty of cheap blue metal —where there is—but where is it to be found, broken, carted, and spread at the price ?

Concrete roads are being built in many parts of America, and there is now a great movement going on in this and in other countries as well. But we think the people of New Zealand are almost entirely ignorant of this progressive movement. A handy pamphlet on the important subject has just been issued by the Wilson Portland Cement Company, Ltd., of Auckland, and from which we hope to make full extracts, when spacefill; permit. The following opening remarkswill suffice for this issue : — OUR DUTY POINTED OUT. '' Why don't you cement people make it more widely known throughout New Zealand that a new era is dawning for country dwellers?" said a visitor to our office the other day.

"' Why don't you let the people, know the facts about modern road building, and the part that Concrete is playing in the making of permanent country roads? —roads that cost little or nothing for upkeep and that are making travelling and haulage pleasurable and profitable for 365 days in the year. Few people in New Zealand have any idea of what is being done in America, for instance, in the building of permanent concrete highways. If it were more generally known, much of the waste that is now going on in this country, would soon cease. The people have only to be given proof of the great economy as well as the almost perfect utility of the concrete highway, and they will insist upon its Adoption for main arteries, at least. It is time they had their eyes opened, and it seems to me that you are the people to undertake the task."

These remarks were directed to us by a gentleman who has been studying road-making in America and elsewhere. The discussion that ensued convinced us that it would be in the interests of the public generally if we published a few facts about concrete highways, and the great activity displayed in building them in America and other countries. We felt that our position as the oldest Cement Company in Australasia impelled us to continue to take the lead in instructing the people on the uses of concrete. We have found that even amongst those who ought to be ' au fait' with all the latest ideas in roadmaking, there are many who know next to nothing about the development of the concrete highway during recent years. That the general public should be ignorant of the matter is, therefore, not surprising.

A perusal of following will, we trust, prove helpful and enlightening to a wide circle of readers. The book will be sent free to any address forwarded to our office. COST OF CONCRETE ROADS. The general impression in this country is_ that' concrete is too expensive for ordinary road making, because it is thought that it must be covered with a wearing surface of wood blocks, aspait, or some other material to prevent .slipping and other supposed disadvantages. As a matter of fact, it. has been proved in actual practice that a concrete road is better and less slippery without these coverings, even on grades that would be unsafe with some of them. [To be Continued.]