OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 29, 3 August 1937, Page 11

OBITUARY

MR. R. E..ROBERTSON

The death occurred early this morning of Mr. Richard Edward Robertson, Westinghouse brake expert for the New i Zealand .Railways. Mr. Robertson, who was 76 years of age, served his engineering apprenticeship at the North-Eastern, Railway Works, Gateshead-on-Tyne; England. Leaving England in 1883 for Australia, he was engaged in various responsible engineering positions until 1894, when he was asked to take charge of the Westinghouse Brake Company's railway contracts. After completing the rolling stock on the New South Wales Government Railways, and the locomotives on the Queensland Railways, he came in 1900 to New Zealand, equipping the whole.of the New Zealand Government Railways rolling stock with the Westinghouse brake. On completion of this work in 1905, Mr. Robertson represented the Westinghouse Brake Company until 1915, when he joined the New Zealand Railway Department .at. the head office, Wellington. Mr. Robertson was an associate of the Marine Engineers' Institute, Wellington. During his career Mr. Robertson supervised the equipping- at Auckland of the first braking system on any tramway in New Zealand. •

He was the originator of the New Zealand Safety First League for Children, and for many years- addressed the: school children on safety-first matters, and supplied- free to. schools and parents" over 10,000 safety-first posters containing special instructions to children.

Mr. Robertson leaves a widow, four sons, and a daughter. The sons are Dr. George Harold Robertson. M.Sc, M.D., M.R.C.P., of Wanganui, the Rev. Fred Robertson, 8.A., of Pukerau; Mr. Norman Robertson, B.Sc, A.M.1.C.E., at present in England, and . Mr. Roy Victor Robertson, of New" Plymouth. Mrs. Hampton Brown, the secretary of the Victoria League, Wellington, is the daughter.