MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1918, Page 7

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETJNO. The ordinary meeting of the Moa. Jload Hoard was held at luglewood on Saturday, when there were present: Messrs. A. Gorki!! (chairman), T. S. Bowler, I l '. J. Bracogirdle, J. W. Henwood, J. Hunter, A. Eeesby, R. Stewart aud L>. Todd. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman reported a3 follows:. "The weather has 'been 'exceptionally wet, but we have been able to keep the men profitably employed on. the erection of the buildings for pipe depot and plant, on wet da.y3, and on. fine days they have gone out on the roads to> do the mosturgent jobs. Eighty-three yards of metal has been laid and rolled on tha roadway at our new site,, but aa the ground! is inclined to be damp it will be> necessary to put a light coat, on a portion of it later on. The buildings for the pipe; depot and plant are completed,, barring- a, few details, and the plant ia housed. A, new fence is required along the frontage of our sections, and I should like an expression of opinion from the members; as, a guide to the committee in cliarge- of that work. Maintenance work has bcens carried out on the Bedford North, Bedford South, Dudley East,, Dudley West,, Surrey, Wortley and Kainmta, Road*. A. big slip blocked the Mangaone Road,, which has now, been opened for traffic,, and the balance of the slip will be- cleared later. Another slip completely blocked traffic on the Toi Toi Road for a week, but has now been cleared off.. On. the Norfolk East Road one set; of 9in. pipes has been put in, but, another set is required. The settlers are carting the pipes free of cost to the board, and are helping to put them in. Messrs.. Grylls. and Julian asked for one of our men to assist in metalling the Junction Road for tho Taranaki County Council. As the road is breaking u;> badly aud in a very bad state of repair, I acceded to their request, on. the understanding that it would be- only until such time- as we required the man ourselves. Labor being scarce now, I realise* that, we must help one- another at times. At tho pipe depot 12 Din., pipes; have been made during the month.. 'Tho total pipes in stock at date ares 22 {tin., 4 I2in., 15 30m., 15 36in. False statements are in. circulation at the present time, to the effect that the board has neither men nor money to do any work I wish to publicly contradict these statements. There are no contracts under way at the present time, and the plant is housed, which, I contend, it should be at this season of tho year,, and we have all the hands we require to attend to the necessary maintenance of the roads. At the present time wo are financially in a stronger position by £2OO than we were two years ago. Two very good men have applied for positions as permanent surfacemen, and I propose asking the board to-day to appoint them as from September I next. As we shall soon be approaching our busy season, I think it would be wise to consider the question of calling for applications for a working overseer. I have done my best to look after the work during the short time we have been without an overseer; but I am firmly convinced that, even if the board was able to pay its chairman, we would be losing moiley through lack of proper supervision and organisation, which only an expert who is able to devote his time to the work is able to thoroughly accomplish. When the plant is working, and the men are working in gangs, and we are employing teams, there is an enormous leakage if the work is not thoroughly organised and mapped out in advance. Every stoppage, however small, means a loss, as the wages are being paid whether the men are working or not, so long a3 they are on tho job. Mr. Henwood, in moving the adoption of the report, considered that the thanks of tho board were due to the chairman for such a thorough report of the work, which he had supervised without pay. Mr. D. Todd seconded the resolution, which was carried. NEW PLANT REQUIRED. The chairman stated that he considered it would be necessary to procure a light engine to drive the crusher, in order to permit of more economical working of the plant. At present, while rolling and scarifying, it was difficult to keep the men employed, while with a light engine it would be possible for the crusher aud scarifier to work at once, and the work would be put through twice as quickly, and there would be less opportunity for leakage. He considered that tho metal could be put down much cheaper under this system. Discussion took place as to the relative merits of a portable or traction engine, and it was resolved that a committee, consisting of the chairman, Messrs. T. S. Bowler, R. Stuart and D. Todd, be set up to report on the matter at next meeting. DEPUTATIONS. Mr. Eraser waited on the board in connection with purchasing or leasing the piece of land (less than halt an acre) at the deviation of the Ratapiko Road. The chairman stated that the price offered by Mr. Eraser ( £ls) would probably not pay for the survey, the cost of which was difficult to estimate. As far as he could gather it would cost the whole of the purchase money to effect the transfer. Mr Hunter moved that a lease be given, at a nominal rental of Is per annum, subject ■ to the land being kept clear of weeds.—Carried. Mr. Cox, Wortley Road, asked that some attention be paid to an unmetalled cutting near his property. At present it was almost impassable. Mr. Henwood estimated that thirteen chains required attention. The chairman stated that it was rather early to form up unmetalled roads, as if wet weather continued the road would get worse than ever It was not surprising, considering the exceptional weather, that the unmetalled roads should get into a bad state; even the metalled roads were breaking up It was decided to send a man up for three days. STAFFING. The chairman moved that the necessary steps be taken to obtain an overseer. Mr. Ilenwood did not consider an overseer necessary, as the various district foremen could do any organisation required Mr. Reesby favored putting the plant in the charge of the driver and appointing four surfacemen to have charge of the various districts. Mr.- Todd favored one good, practical man being given charge, in place of appointing four men. Mr. Reesby considered they would not obtain a good man at £5 per week and pay for all his own benzine, ete. The chairman stn'-! +hat if they se cured a good man tl' p . v -would not objoc; to increasing the salary. ( The motion was seconded by Mr. Todd I 'and' carried ■

GENERAL. It was resolved to appoint..Mr. Luilainati surfaceman, as from S?pteinber 1. The disappearance of -various tools was discussed, and it was resolved to brand them. In order to enable contracts for metal, etc., to be called earlier in tlie season, it was resolved to allocate the year's rates to the various roads on August 31, instead of September :30. Mr JX Todd drew atteniton to drains on tho Dudley Road -which needed clean- < ing out. The chairman did not think it fair to ask men .to get. into drains at this 1 season of the year. It was only by bad management, that the drains were not attended to at the proper season A eul-' vert referred to by Mr. Todd would le- j iceive attention. The chairman stated that during next i month he proposed to carry out work on j I the Windsor, York, Bristol Weat, Khun-1 ! tauteka, Lincoln. Mangaone, iviimata i'Uorth and Wortley Roads. J The Inglewood Borough Council untitled thai; it was. unable to supply metal :at present, owing to scarcity of labor. Every endeavor would be made to sup- \ ply at the earliest opportunity, the pricebeing fixed at 9s per yardL The chairman stated that the board could obtain the metal cheaper itself. I In connection with the proposed Jiverictfc Road loan- of £2300, the State AdIvances Office notified, thai further par- ! tieuiars; as; to boundaries were rewired, j It- wsa. resolwdi to notifythe Kakaia bridge asi dangerous.. I Axieounts, amounting: fo '£264 Ma" Id r were> pajmenfc.