A SHORTAGE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20507, 25 May 1938, Page 8

A SHORTAGE

MEN, PLANT AND MATERIAL WAIKATO COUNTY DIFFICULTIES POSSIBLE LIMITATION OF WORKS “ The past year has been a fairly difficult one owing to mounting costs, difficulty in securing loans, materials for construction and tenders for contracts,” said the chairman of Waikato County Council, Mr J. A. Sampson, at the annual meeting of the council today. The great increase in the number of motor vehicles on the roads, consequent on the better times experienced generally throughout the country, had made road maintenance a serious problem. The total cost of maintaining the main highways alone had exceeded £12,000, in addition to the large sum spent on the other county roads. This growing expenditure had brought home the wisdom of the council’s policy in obtaining authority to raise a large loan to reconstruct and seal all the main highways and several of the county roads, continued Mr Sampson. “ The council applied for £30,000 from the Main Highways Board to commence this work, but, owing to the demand in other parts, £15,000 only was available,” said the speaker. “ However, we have obtained authority and contracts have been let for work to the value of £23,000. Work to the value of £5023 has been approved, but the contract has not yet been let, while plans for further work involving £20,000 are nearly completed. In addition, plans have been prepared for work subsidised from the Public Works funds, exceeding £6OOO. Some of the latter works are at present in hand.” Supply of Metal The loan proposals included some of the more important county roads and over three miles of these roads had been reconstructed and sealed by the county's own staff. One of the difficulties experienced in carrying on those works was the supply of metal and to overcome that the council was opening a quarry at Te Miro to supply metal for the Cambridge and Tamahere districts. When completed, the quarry would be fitted with up : to-date plant and would be a great asset to the county. Steps were also being taken to open a quarry at Matahura,' where there was a definite shortage of metal. “ One of the greatest difficulties experienced during the past year has been the shortage of material, especially steel for bridges,” said Mr Sampson. “ This difficulty has been brought about partly by the amount of work being done by the Public Works Department and the various local bodies, most of whom have large loan works in hand. I foresee that, even if the Main Highways Board makes available the large amounts applied for, there will be a definite shortage of contractors, plant and materials to carry out all the works proposed. In this county alone the total cost of works proposed, and including those already in hand, is £66,000 on main highways, and, as the adjoining local authorities have similar programmes, it is quite evident that the amount of work done will be limited to the men, plant and materials available.”

The speaker was congratulated on the comprehensive nature of his report. ________