RAILWAY WORKSHOPS.

Hutt News, Volume 9, Issue 28, 18 December 1935, Page 3

RAILWAY WORKSHOPS.

OBBAT CHRISTMAS PASTY 1200 CHILDREN" ENTERTAINED. Fully 1200 children had a thoroughly enjoyable time at the Railway Workshops on Saturday , afternoon on the oc'oasion of the great Christmas party for children of railway employees. Great 'interest, was taken by the young visitors in the mechanical wonders of the workshops, while merry parties rode on small goods trucks and merry-go-rounds. Father Christmas in his magic cave dispensed a gift to each small guest, and large quantities of ice cream and sweets completed the enjoyment of the occasion. From early in the afternoon hundreds of children and their parents sampled the thrills of a mecnanical workshop hidden beneath a canopy 'greenery and gaily coloured bunting. About 2.30 p.m the wail of a train whistle heralded the approach ,i. special train from Wellington, aitJi 'pulled slowly into the siding v . .'j i'. : carriage windows filled wiu tuning jouthful faces. Completely covering the front of the engine was a gigantic paintifag of Father Christmas, who trailed festoons of lycopodium along the sides of the locomotive, From the train came about 800 children and their parents, who quickly mixed with the already large throng in the grounds. The fun of the party began with a •grand procession led by a band, Father Christmas and two clowns. Behind them came a bevy of youthful fairies, some Tiding on gaily,'-dressed donkeys, and others sitting in go-carts smothered in decorations. With a smile for all, Father Chriitmas slowly made his way to his magic cave of Toyland, where, from his seat in a leafy bower, he chatted with the children and handed them his gifts. Father Christinas was sitting below the Cave of Toyland, which sparkled and. shone in the reflection of brightlycoloured lights. Inside the cave itself stood Father Christmas's fairies, ready to hurry forward at his command with toys for his visitors. So numerous were his guests that for two hours a queue waited outside his cave. The children found plenty to amuse themselves after they had seen Father Christmas, and each received a bag of - .greets. Ono of the latest model enits new paint and pulled by electric tractors, were popular conveyances for tours of the workshops and the grounds. Before the fun of the afternoon began the crowd was introduced to the member for the district, the Hon. W. Nash, Minister of Finance, why read an apology for absence from the Hon D. 0. Sullivan, Minister of Railways, ex'pressing his regret at having to be in Christchurch. Mr. Nash said he appreciated the tremendous amount of work done by social organisations, but he knew of none who had done so much as the Hult railway workshops, They had assisted many organisations in the district, had contributed to the children's health camp; anil every year saw a hamper sent to the railway men who were ill. The social committee did wonderful work, and he understood that the cost o fthe Crti :<iras paTty alone was £!;!<).. Mr Nsfih stressed the need for cot)pei utiou between the Government and! Its emplcjees. The best Government ia the wrtld could not get the best from ( Its oyees unless it treated thenf well, he oald. The new Gc/ernmenf inNew /Wind would see that its employees got a decent standard of living,, the best of working conditions, and ju;.- , tit*. : 11 « I > , I Mr. G. H. Mackley, general manager ' of railways said the past year had been a busy one, but the coming year would be even busier. Tenders had recently j been accepted en behalf of the Government for several clccric locomotives, and it was very pleasant for him to able to assure the Government Railways Board that the work could l»e urI dertaken in the Hutt workshops, aneT .done as efficiently and as ,wrll a-. any- { where else in the wcild. There lt;uJ ; been a very happy relationship between the men engaged in the industry and the management, and he thanked the men of the Hutt workshops for their rssi stance.