Shortage of Graders.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 March 1939, Page 6

Shortage of Graders.

"The grader shortage is acute,” said Mr J. Norris the county engineer, reporting to the Whangarei County Council. “More graders will be required to cope with the work, and I would suggest that one or two more graders should be secured before next summer.” The council decided to seek the loan of a grader from the Public Works Department to assist in the work this season, while consideration will be given to the purchasing of more machines before next season. New Bridge over Mataura.

Five hundred and forty feet long, with nine (30-foot spans, the new Menzies Ferry bridge over the Mataura River should begin to take shape before many more months are past. The County Engineer, Mr G. R. Milward, is awaiting final approval from Wellington, though nothing could be done until the finance had been arranged—the bridge will cost about £l5 000 —and the steel ordered. Concrete and steel will be the materials of construction, and when completed the bridge will be one of the biggest of its kind in the county.

Development of Industries. The development of new industries and the expansion of existing ones in Southland will be studied by an officer of the Department of Industries and Commerce at Dunedin, Mr C. Larsen, when he visits Invercargill within the next few days. Mr Larsen’s impending visit is the outcome of a movement by the Southland Progress League, representatives of which recently conferred with Mr W. M. C. Denham. M.P. for Invercargill, who subsequently asked the Minister (the Hon D. G. Sullivan) to send an officer to Invercargill. Inquiry into the effect of the import restrictions locally will also be carried out by Mr Larsen.