View report page

113
The working of the contract has been most satisfactory.
There have been few complaints of non-collection. The time of
leaving off has always been earlier than the hour fixed by the
contract, and the horses supplied have been a credit to the
contractor. The Council has also saved a very substantial sum
for the ratepayers.
Report to Public Health Committee re Repairs to Dust Vans, 1909
and 1910.
In compliance with your request, I beg to report there are
twenty vans and two carts at work in the Borough removing
refuse from houses and premises.
There are in addition seven spare carts which have been
used four times a year for Dust Collection during the holiday
season, and are also frequently used by the Borough Engineer
when required. The dust vans, carts, and spare carts have been
repaired when necessary and charged to one Works Order number.
The total amount spent on repairs during the year ending
March 31st, 1910, equals £217, or £7 9s. 7d. per vehicle per
annum, which is 2s. iod. per week. This sum may appear large,
but the nature of the work and the age of some of the vans
must be considered; the first vans have now been running
for nearly twelve years.
The cost of repairs for tipping vans must necessarily be
more than ordinary vans, the mechanism is frequently put out
of order by the jolting, etc. The wear and tear of a dust van
may be considered great, for it is rough, hard work.
During the year, six vans have been thoroughly overhauled,
the covers removed, sides raised, and two carts have also
been rebuilt.
The sum of £200 provided in the estimate for the current
year will enable us to remove several more covers and apply
some much needed paint to the worst of those vans which have
not received attention this year, and thereby lessen the cost of
repairs in the future. 1 would also suggest the transference of
the seven spare carts to the Borough Engineer, which will
relieve the Dust Collection Department from keeping them in
repair in the future.
H