COUNTY PLANT.

Shannon News, 19 June 1923, Page 3

COUNTY PLANT.

PURCHASE OF ANOTHER TRUCK

At tlie last meeting of the Horowhenua. County Council me- que-suon ol tne provision ol another motor lorry roi oouniy worn, came up ior discussion, the cnainman (Mr G. A. Monk) siaim B that it was necessary to cowsiuei me queauon, as ii it were deciuect io yei. one, it could be entered on tne t .„. mates. , ,

. Cr. Ryder asked'what satisfaction the present lorry was giving. The Engineer said he diu not have the exact figures wan mm, out mem was a great saving iroin me prices on doing* me work ny dray, uopec.au,, u'nexi wnetuf a u u to be c u . uu distance.

Tlie chairman said that there w

no dount about tne necessity mr me .truck. The question to consider wt. wiiemer they stiouid go in lor a Ford one-ton truui or .someming rattier neiter. A Ford would run into about about £SOO. It the Council wore in tavour of the lorry, a should be put on trie estimates rignt away. Personally he thought that it was urgently required. cr. ’Harkness contended that the Council should not launch out on a big expenditure, but should be contem with a Ford. They had one big lorry at present, and what was needed was alight truck to take men to work on distant- jobs'and run light loads where it would not pay to take the heavy lorry. • The depreciation on a lorry was a- considerable item and tlie present was not the time to gO in for any heavy ■ expenditure. Cr. Broadbelt was clearly of tlie opinion that two large trucks were necessary. He had a great deal of sympathy wi'th Cr. Harkness’s desire to keep down expenditure, but if they were going to get the work done another truck was necessary, and they should get one that would carry metal. The,matter should be properly considered before a decision wa& made. Cr Catley supported this view.

: The* chairman said that the matter 6hould not he held up too long. The qffice could not frame the estimates i those details were not put in. They should avoid a repetition of last year’s trouble when the rate notices did nol go but until very late. If it was necessary to hold another meeting before they could get the estimates out ) would’ cause delay. ' Cr.-Broadbelt . s aid lie would like opinion of the meeting on the question of getting a heavy lorry. He moved/ a motion., which Cr. Jen&er tetbiided, that a heavy, lorry, and also a Ford truck be procured. Cr. Ryder contended that before fh r meeting voted on the question, they should have the engineer’s report a to whether the truck was necesraxy and whether the crusher could keep two trucks going if they had them. The Engineer explained that, it was plain that they could get twice thr Amount of work done if they could ge' the machinery. As for the crushes keeping the lorries going it would de nend on what portion of the Counts they wefe working. Cr. Harimess contended, that the lie**' lorry which the Council sometime .employed, was doing excellent work fn t.be bands of a good man a truck* of this sort would do what was re quired and save, the greater expend 1 tore. . ' . ’

Cr. Ryder asked if a one-ton trucl* woqld carry metal. The Engineer ex plained that it all depended on get ting the right man. Cr. Jensen did not think that a F<v truck wais suitable for carting me to 1 Tlie. chairman had stated at a former meeting that a. truck would pay for itself in 18 months. If this, was so. u big truck should certainly be got. Rather than throw out the motor to get. a large truck the Council should nostpone the matter and go into it further before coming to a, decision. The chairman said he quite agreed with Cr. Jensen that a large truck would be advisable, but Cr. Jensen •had not. told them where the £ISOO that, such a truck would cost was 1n coino from. T-Te thought that if it was decided to get a truck they should no’ <ro above £SOO. Tip to that amonrtt they- could purchase out. of revenue above that it. would benecessary t> raj'-e a loan. Cr. Harkness moved an 'amendment .which Cr. Catley seconded that, a Ford oim-ton truck ,be got. The chairman asked if Cr. Harkness would alter his amendment to the effect?, that, a truck to cost, un to £SOO should he bought, which; migrht be the better proposition. , ThL would be a general utility, truck suitable for carrving metal where necessary, an 1 ' 1 would do twice the work of a one-io*'. truck, whilst, wages would not amoun* to any moreCr. Harkness refused to alter bis amendment, which was then put. and lost on the show of hands. The matter was left in abeyance pending a report by the Engineer a*~ ’to the actual saving effected bv the lorry arid whether it could be successfully worked with the present maebinery.