EDUCATING RAILWAYMEN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 31 December 1924, Page 10

EDUCATING RAILWAYMEN.

COMMISSIONERS’ OPINION

‘SAFETY FIE ST’ 5 FOUNDATION

In their report the Railway Commissioners state:— - ’

There is yev another matter upon which we must make adverse comment, and xliat is the absence of any tacili ties for the training of the younger members of the staff in railway work. It is understood that some scheme of training is in operation tor the teaching of station work, the foundation of all general railway knowledge, but there is no regular arrangement applicable .to the whole of the staff, anil subject to examinations at regiuar intervals. Nearly alt railways have realised the need lor the systematic training ot their employees m order to dovetop a more enlightened ...'personnel.', ancl it is a. matter of urgency ■tout' a definite scheme ot this character should be introduced m New Zealand. Classes might advantageously be arranged m conjunction with the educational. authorities at the various centres : r-Wellington, Aucklaud, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill. The Railway Department should co-operate in such classes, both by providing the men qualified to teach railway subjects, by donations towards,the cost, and by providing free travelling' facilities for their employees to attend such classes. Advantage should also / accrue;'from the publication, by the llailway Department of an official journal, as is customary on most railways. ,i - Theoretical training is, of course, of little avail unless it is allied to practical experience in th<* various departments, but it affords the ground-work for the: building up of a comprehensive railway education; signs of which are wanting in New 'Zealand. . . Closely associated with this question isr V the need tor experience on othei railways. Practical education can only .’fos: fostered by .this means, and we com sxler that those wlio indicate the possession -of suitable; qualifications should .be-, -induced to. study: the railway >ems of Australia, Great Britain; and America’, •i n order to obtain the wider vision necessary in the future officers of the Railway Department • alternatively, tours cji the railways of South Alnca and the ' Argentine, -.which, are developing, their railways .rapidly, would oe advantageous. Apparently no recognised system has been followed in the selection of officers to visit other counfcnesv' .Now and again an individual officer lias been to Australia,, but visits to- more, distant countries .have apparently.-: ,beeji:.;. ; infrequent. We recommend iilia t. three -.or .fou^ - -officers he selected annually to visit the laihvays of othei countries, and upon Their return to report upon their experience. .Jiv 1925 die railway ,? centenary- celebrations are to be held in England, and delegates from the world’s: railways will be pre- , This would be.: a most opportune time for. selected officers to visit the Old Country, and we think that consideration might be given to this. fn connection with railway education; ifc. is noticed that there is no systenv ol inculcating “Safety First” principles among , the staff: . This is a :cheme inaugurated in England and followed in America, Australia and elsewhere with marked success. We think !• It advisable • that steps should he taken , to. interest railway employees and the public to protect themselves from clanger bv means of suitable posters, cinema films, and through the medium of a railway, journal, the development yf which i<i. proposed elsewhere in this .eport.