GENERAL MANAGER OF RAILWAYS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 85, 4 January 1940, Page 6

GENERAL MANAGER OF RAILWAYS

Mr. E. Casey To Succeed Mr. G. H. Mackley

CHANGE AT END OF MONTH

By Telegraph—Press Association.

CHRISTCHURCH, January 3.

The Minister of Railways, Mr. Sullivan, announced today that the General Manager of Railways, Mr. G. H. Mackley, who would complete 40 years’ service with the department on January 31, had requested permission to retire as from that date. Cabiuet had decided to comply with his request, and had instructed the Minister to convey to Mr. Mackley its appreciation of his long and devoted service to the department. Cabinet had also approved the appointment of Mr. E. Casey, first assistant general manager, to the position of General Manager from February 1. Mr. E. Casey . Before his appointment as assistant general manager in June, 1933, Mr Casey was chief engineer of railways from September, 1931. He joined the engineering staff as a cadet in 1902, and subsequently served in the Wanganui, Auckland, Greymouth and Ohakune districts. In 1912 Mr. Casey took over the duties of assistant engineer, Auckland district, and in 1916 took charge of the grade easement works between Fenrose and Mercer. In 1921 he was transferred to the Christchurch district, and was engaged inl remodelling the station yards on the Midland line before the opening of the Otira tunnel. When it was decided to proceed with the new station at Auckland, and the Auckland-Westfield new railway, Mr. Casey was specially selected to take charge of this work.

In March. 1925, he was appointed inspecting engineer, with headquarters in Wellington, and was afterward appointed to the position of divisional superintendent in charge of the traffic, locomotive. and maintenance branches of the North Island, with headquarters in AuckPnid In May, 1931, he became assistant chief engineer of railways m U ellltl B‘™V and in September of. the same year took over the duties of chief engineer. Mr. G. H. Mackley, C.M.G. The appointment of Air. Mackley as General Manager of Railways in succession to the late Mr. P. G. Roussell was made in May, 1933, and for several months before that lie was manager. From December, 1931, till the tone of Mr. Rousseffs death he was assistant general manager. Born at Port Chalmers in 1883 and educated at the Invercargill Grammar School, Mr. Mackley joined the railwajs as a cadet in the traffic branch at Otautau, Southland, in 1900. He worked at various stations in the Southland and districts till 1907. when he was appointed as a clerk in the goods department. Atter being transferred on promotion to Petone station, and later to Invereargill goods department, he was appointed assistant relieving ollicet, and later, in 1913, stationmaster at Heriot. Subsequent to this he had me years as stationmaster at Kaikohe and Onerahi, and served as assistant relieving officer in the -Wellington district, being later promoted to the position of divisional clerk in the district traffic manager’s office, Wellington,, where he then qualified as a train-running officer (IJ-O--24). He was subsequently transferred to Ohakune. During part of this period he represented the department before the Railways Appeal Board. He was chief clerk at Ohakune from 1925 to• 19-8, and was selected in September, 1928, to be chief clerk in the head office, M ellmgton. Mr Mackley bus had a wide range of experience in his 40 years.with the department. He has worked in practically every position in the traffic branch, and lias had’actual service in the majority of the larger districts, from Invercargill to Whangarei. The types of work have included goods, parcels and passenger traffic. shipping work of all types associated with the railways, train-running and transport experience, and executive responsibility as a district chief clerk and relieving district manager. In the New Year honours list for 1938 he was created a Companion of the Most Dis. tinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George. Mr- Mackley has also had a notable career in the’field of sport. He was a member of the Star Football Club, Invercargill, and a contemporary of M. J. Stead and other notable players. He was also a keen rowing man and at present is an enthusiastic angler. From his early days he has also taken a keen interest in horses.