RAILWAY SERVICE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 9 July 1925, Page 5

RAILWAY SERVICE.

STAFFING CONDITIONS

MINISTER’S IMPORTANT STATEMENT.

(BY TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, July 8. The annual meeting of the railway officers’ conference to-day was addressed by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Railways \(the Hon. J.'GCoates). V Air. Coates said that the idea of the reorganisation of the railways was to give the public the bestNpossib-e service. In this work he had received every possible assistance from the officers. They had accomplished a great deal of groundwork without dislocation,,and so far no hitch had occurred. He believed their efforts were being recognised by the public. Success wa s only possible by- co-operation and the department wanted the staff to know what the difficulties of the department. were, what they meant, and to use their judgment. Referring to compulsory retirement after 40 years’ service, the Alin is ter said that though it meant the loss of valuable services in many cases, yet it opened the avenue to promotion and encouraged initiative; and the policy had been of benefit. They wanted to encourage men to make themselves competent, and by a process of examination and merit qualify themselves for the highest positions. Mr. Coates also referred to the value to the department and officers of trips * / abroad to study methods.. In order to remedy the effects of New Zealand’s isolation it had been necessary as a matter of expediency to bring in officers from outside. He did not like this f as a matter of policy, though it had been essential, and did not propose to do it in future. His idea, was that officers should be sent fairly continually to keep in touch with methods elsewhere. The Alinister foretold the issue of a departmental journal to inform all railwavmen of the position of progress in railway matters. There would also be a complete overhaul system of staff control to discover the. best possible system.