COUNCIL TO OBTAIN HEAVY GRADER

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 183, 29 July 1955, Page 1

COUNCIL TO OBTAIN HEAVY GRADER

At its meeting on July 20 the Borough Council decided to obtain a heavy grader. Advice had been recpived verbally earlier that the National Roads Board wonld consider providing the purchase money for such a grader, and this could be paid off by the Council in several annual instalments. At the meeting a letter from the secretary of thq Roads Board stat^J Hiaf the CouncMfa reqnest for such" assistance had .been forwhrded to the Ministry of Works, Hamilton, for comment, in May, and the report from the District Commissioner of Works was still awaited. It was hoped that the matter would be placed before the Board at its July meeting. Cr Barton said. that the Council had been shown films of three different machines and thonght they should deeide now orf what they wantecL and if possible have an order placed at once in view of delays in, delivery. The Mayor gave the prices of three machines, full particulars of wh(ch had been submitted to the Council, as being respectively £5860, £5920 and £6900. Cr Barton said 'that of the three machines he favoured the Caterpillar 112, and thought that though this was the dearest he felt snre they would save the difference in upkeep. Cr Currie agreed, and said that all the information indicated that American machines of this type were nc-'e reliable than the British. This view has been borne out by all engineers from whom - information had come. He believed they would save the extra £1000 in five years. Other councillors expressed similar views, and it was decided to advise the National Roads Board of the Council's choice.