TAR OR BITUMEN?

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4411, 6 February 1930, Page 3

TAR OR BITUMEN?

“ ‘New Zealand tar for New Zealand roads,’ is an entirely justifiable appeal to assist local industries,” says Sir George Elliot, chairman, of

directors of the Auckland Gas Company. Speaking on this subject at the annual meeting- of the company, Sir Geoi'ge said: “The reduction of £50&3 in revenue is more than accounted for by the reduced price at which tar has been sold during the year, a course rendered necessary by the fierce competition this company has to face from importers of bitumen. Bitumen is a by-product of oil refineries, and it competes with tailor road surfacing, surfacing rendered necessary by the increasing use of motor vehicles. Time was when there was little or no importation of bitumen into New Zealand, tar being used 1 exclusively for footpaths, yards, tennis courts, etc., and the company had then little difficulty in selling all the tar it made at satisfactory prices. Of late years, however, it has been found that macadam roads, without a tar or bituminous covering, will not stand for any length of time the pounding and suction of motor- wheeled traffic.