RAILWAY STAFF CHANGES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22590, 21 December 1938, Page 10

RAILWAY STAFF CHANGES

TRAFFIC MANAGERS' RETIREMENT

MINISTER ANNOUNCES SUCCESSORS

(PHESS ASSOCIATION' TBLEGBAM.)

WELLINGTON, December 20.

The Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister for Railways, announced to-day several district appointments as from January 2, 1939, after the retirement on superannuation, after 40 years' service, of Messrs E. S. Brittenden, District Traffic Manager at Christchurch; H. C. Couch, District Traffic Manager at Auckland; W. Woodger, District Traffic Manager at Wellington; and D. St. George, District Traffic Manager at Wanganui. Mr W. M. Cole, assistant district traffic manager at Dunedin, is appointed district traffic manager at Wanganui. Mr A. L. Smith, assistant district traffic manager at Wanganui, is appointed district traffic manager at Wellington. Mr W. Rodgers, district traffic manager at Invercargill, is appointed district traffic manager at Christchurch. Mr J. Sawers, assistant traffic manager at Auckland, is appointed district traffic manager at Auckland. Mr A. E. Hargreaves, assistant district traffic manager at Wellington, is appointed district traffic manager at Invercargill. ' Referring to the new appointments Mr Sullivan said that when, in 1936, some important changes were made in the staff organisation of the railways, he spoke of the prospective retirement of many senior officers, and expressed his natural anxiety that those who were to fill senior positions would have the proper opportunity to obtain the training and experience necessary to fit them for those positions. That course had been pursued, and the officers now appointed to the control of the principal railway traffic districts of the Dominion were all fully qualified in every respect for the work on which they were to be engaged. Speaking of the four district traffic managers who are retiring, Mr Sullivan said: "My official association with these district managers has impressed me with the high sense of duty which actuated them, their great experience, wealth of knowledge, and marked ability. I thank them for the service they have rendered to the department, to the country, and to me personally, and wish them all happiness and prosperity in the future."

LONG AND VARIED EXPERIENCE

CAREER OF NEW MANAGER

Born in Canterbury, and having spent many years of his service with the Railway Department in the Christchurch railway district, Mr W. Rodgers, who returns to Christchurch as District Traffic Manager, is one of the best-known railwaymen in the service.

He has had long experience with the department. His father, Mr J. T. Rodgers, was stationmaster at Oxford when the new District Traffic Manager was born there 54 years ago. The sotv -was educated at the East Oxford School, and joined the Railway Department at Christchurch as a cadet when he was 14 years of age. He then worked in the Dunedin section, being stationed at Outram, Oamaru. Waikouaiti, and Upper Port Chalmers. In 1911, Mr Rodgers was transferred to the West Coast as stationmaster at Stillwater, and, following a period as relieving officer on the Coast, he was appointed waggons supply officer at Greymouth. He returned to Canterbury, in 1919, going to Timaru. He worked there for six months, and was then promoted to train running officer at Dunedin, a position he held for four years before being transferred to Invercargill in a like capacity. In February, 1928, Mr Rodgers returned to Christy church as train running officer, and appointments which he later held here were stationmaster, transport officer, and Assistant District Traffic Manager. In June last, Mr Rodgers was appointed to take charge of the Invercargill district.