COUNTY ESTIMATES

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19896, 27 May 1936, Page 2

COUNTY ESTIMATES

ROAD MAINTENANCE. l IFFIOTS OF HIGHER WAGES. (Special Reporter.) ’ .\IATAMATA, \Vednesday. The probable movement of wages tevels. the taking over of main high—ways and control of heavy road transport, all matters which may have an important bearing upon costs. were referred to in the report or the engin-l oer. Mr M. E. Fitzgerald, at, the ennuul meeting of the .\letamata County Council to-day. The general labourere‘ wages were at present at the rate 0t 47 hours at 15 6d in the week, with no addition In the rate for overtime. The corresponding pay in March. 1931. was £7 hours at is 9N. If the weekly earnings are to aim the same total at 40 hours per work the hourly rate‘ will here to lie Qs lid or about. 30‘ per rout :ttll't\(‘ the present rate and‘ thls would he the approximate etYecti on all wages. Such an upward trend‘ in wages would also effect costs of‘ contracts and materials purchased} though to what extent it was dittlculti to foresee. it may be in the vicinity; of 10 per cent. Last year‘s grosg ex- ‘ ponditurev on maintenanre was 225,271 which included £10,003 for direct senses. The increased expenditure bleed upon tlnse figures and at the percentages mentioned would be as‘ followsz—Wuges. “0.000 at 30 pert rent'would he £3000: other costs, “5.000 at to per rent would he} 21500: Total. £23.00“ at is per cent, would be £3500. . The increase in average costs based upon this assumption would be about 18 per rent and if they became effective in the near future they would in—crease total costs for the current year by about in per cent. In preparing general estimates allowance had been made for emit a contingency. ‘53 regards the taking over of main highwdys. it was rumoured that No. IR‘mntn htnhwey was one of those which the counrtl would be relieved of} in the near future. if this came about the council would save some proper-‘ tton of the sum of £IBOO which was; estimated as its share or this year's‘ mntntenence of that road, said the ensincer. The estimates for the current year. are as followsz—Matn highways maim‘ tensnce. £5200: second class roads ntsintenanre, N 500; third class roads} maintenance. £3300: a total oft 1312.000. The amount Included in the estimates for construction £2OOO bringing up the total to MLOOO.