MOTOR LORRIES AND ROADS

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 66, 24 January 1918, Page 4

MOTOR LORRIES AND ROADS

The Matamata County Council is finding itself in a similar position to many other local bodies. Its metal roads are wearing out before they are paid for. The debt remains, blit the road will not carry motor traffic. A few years ago a loan was raised for metalling the roads in the Matamata riding. They proved satisfactory —so long as the ordinary traffic prevailed. With the advent of the Glaxo factory came modern methods of transportation of the milk-the motor lorry replaced the milk carts. At the last meeting of the council came the complaint that the road is being broken up by the lorry. What was the council to do? It was very fairly argued by one councillor that the farmers benefiting through the use of the lorry were those paying the rates for the loan. Of course there are those who do not benefit because they are not supplying the Glaxo factory. It may be suggested is it fair that these people’s rates should be used to repair or maintain a road which is damaged through no fault of their own? Again, if the road is capable of standingthe milk cart traffic but will not carry a motor lorry, should the latter vehicle be barred or the users penalised ? Argument, pro and con, will be influenced very largely by which side of the fence you are on. The problem reverts itself back to the point that provision must be made that all roads are capable of carrying motor vehicles. This means a better and more expensive road. Back further you get those vexed issues the arterial road and who is to pay. A side issue is—should a local body take any action which may hinder progressive measures tending to economical transportation ? It at once opens up another very wide and far reaching subject. We believe that the day is not very far distant when all large dairy factories will abolish the individual delivery of milk by suppliers to the factory, and substitute a collecting system, probably wherever possible by motor lorry. Soldiers returning from the front will have seen what the motor lorry can do. If the roads are incapable of standing the traffic what is going to happen ? The only thing that appears at all certain is that the local authority must say to the ratepayers, if you want good roads you must be prepared to pay for them. Which puts the problem up to the ratepayers to solve.

Cheapness is always tempting. The question of how good ? is over-shadowed by how cheap. Usually there is an awakening. The settlers of very many country districts in the Dominion are experiencing the shock. They are being confronted not only with the good roads problem but with the question can any community afford to neglect its highways ? At present tho former obscures the latter; before long the position will be reversed. What is it costing settlers or users of roads for haulage? They pull on a good road ; they pull against an unimproved, rough or boggy surface. Where one saves power, the other wastes. Power costs money whether feed is bought for the horses or benzine for the car. What they save in power will go towards the payment of interest on a loan for a good road. Is the loss of power much ? Greater than many people think. This has recently been determined by tests made with a dynamometer by Prof J. B. Davidson, Agricultural Engineer, University of California, made for the Good Roads Bureau of the California State Automobile Association. A 3-ton load was hauled over various types of roads in the same locality on the same day; the same horses and drivers being used. The dynamometer recorded tractive pull in pounds per ton of load as follows: Pounds Over a level, unsurfaced concrete road - - -27. G Concrete base, jjinch skin top asphaltic oil and screenings - -19.2 Waterbound macadam, level, good condition - - 64.8 Concrete base llinch Topeka top, level, good condition - 08.0 Grayel road good condition level .... 78 2 ' Earth road, line dust, level - 92 Earth road, stiff mud on top, firm underneath, level 218 Loose gravel, not packed down, new road, level 208 In winter many of the roads in this district would come under the 2181 b section.