THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 555, 9 July 1909, Page 8

THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

PRESENTATION TO MR. T.W. ARTHUR. '•'• RETIRING OFFICER'S' INTERESTING -, ■■:• •-, ....'. . REMARKS,;v •• .; : ': , A presentation was made yestorday afternoon., to, Mr. T. W.' Arthur, who has' just; rotired-on superannuation, from -the position, of North Island' Traffic Manager,' after 44 g- years' servico on' the New 'Zealand railways. f His, lato "office was • crowded with railway i, officers, who "had assembled," to'.'-. do .Him s honour. , ' ' ' '! The Minister for Railways- (Hon. 'J. A.. 3 ; Millar), in making: the presentation on bo-' y half of the Departmental officers, said ho was f very glad to assist in honouring tho oldest - officer;of the Department,' whose sorvices ho - greatly, regretted : to' lose. ..Mr. .Arthur bad : ■ gradually worked' himself up to ; .his, high l position, and his energy .'and . ability-'had -. ,'argely contributed to bring..the Service up .. to .its. present: high Standard. .The : public,' ; also, to whom Mr., Arthur had endeared him-' self by his unfailitig courtesy, regretted his J retirement. Those'-who..had worked under i. him had always .received 'justice'and con--3 fii ft a ': hl *'. hal ! ds > ■ and ■'thoofficorsv-of the district.had combined to ex-' B , P ross j, °y, ! hat . Presentation, their '■'high' esa. teem for,him..-■ The Minister 'concluded with' good wishes;for Mr, Arthur's happiness in . us coming hfo of'comparative.seclusioiv and ; handed: to-him. a; handsome silver afternoontea service: ,■•.... v •• . '■ ....•■., i.. '• . Ronayno: (General Manager),. T. '■ g^t° n lGhief IVaffic Manager),' aid \V 1 Bowles (Traffic Clerk) also testified to Mr> 0 $™ I J*>P ulaT . lt y- and: good-qualities.':'-4 - Mr, Arthur, in: responding, recalled the plMsuro which h.o.had,takeh.'in his worki. D ?J en ln .,%^H o !^ : PJoneeririg days!in tho' 2 far ,. s ? u «-',H?'felt-regret on severing- 'his- ) official, connection; with so many; friends. The a question of making., the- railways pay. was , much spoken of at- present; Thousands''of .- P ound f.nad.been.given-in.frei 2 ht concessions, u-t^ a ?. ,do V bH VI'" wh6tQ er'.the' benefit. , roached the pockets 1 of .the general public!: \\ hen they considered, that the ma'ihtena'nco : of permanenVway cost. <}.%; 10d. ' per. train mile, the locomotive branches. 8d;;> traffic Is ud., repairs;to wagonis, etc;, 4d. - , and generni' .; charges, 2d.,,it.was'-difficult to see-how aiiy , groat improvements wero to bo made, though no doubt they .would be.., The. matter was in tho hands of-the Minister, and tho General' -.' Manager. Ho. did not think, they could save reducing the trains on the branch 3 lines • Thoso lines were placed there to Open .■ up:the country, and though,"bf course, reductions could be made, it could not bo forgotten S at •■ -. countr y made the. cities and towns 3 throughout tho Dominion, and if the country 3 was in a bad'state,- tho centres) of popula-i 1 tion, could, not,flourish. -He. thought '.it-would" 3 beagoodthingiftho Department.'couich run : - a .day, train from AVellington to,'- Auckland/ i leaving this. city every morning at' : G'< a.m., t, and'arriving in. the.; northern "city at"10:30 ; I P-jn,. The southern connections,; could' bo 1 altered to suit it; but.there.were'no doubt' i- impediments in' the.way; otherwise ho"was '. sure such .a scheme would, have been ■ adop- • tod'. In. conclusion, : ,Mr...Arthur advised'-tho, ~ younger; men ;in the Service- to:devote-them- ,', 'selves-to its'.interests, -and'''the.'authorities' r .would;not forget, them;in' regard''to- riromo- ,. tipn.--.- -.'-,' ■'...;.-'■'.;.:.-;;'.. K ;;-',-■?•'.-;• "•'■..-,"-.