Dominion’s Pulsing Railways

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 55, 6 March 1937, Page 6

Dominion’s Pulsing Railways

ASSISTANT MANAGER ADDRESSES LUNCH CLUB. The New Zealand railways represented a capital investment of nearly £60,000,000, employing nearly 20,000 men, declared Mr. E. Casey, assistant general manager, in an address to the Citizens' Lunch Club yesterday. No man was employed by the department unless there was a job for him; labour was not needlessly engaged. No appointment was made without reference to head office. Incidentally, there were nearly 10,000 applications on the wait ing list, and these were reviewed every six months. Tradesmen of every class were included in the railways staff. The department paid out nearly £4,500,000 in wages every year, showing what a large proportion of the population depended for its livelihood on the efficient management of the service. The executives realised their duty to staff, public and Government in power, in the many phases of administration. The railways extended over 3000 miles, and the carriages had accommodation for 61,000 people. It would be agreed that in the past few years the department had striven to move with the There were problems to be dealt with, and one of the most difficult of these was that of coping with traffic at peak periods. Railway travel in New Zealand was very seasonal; was capital to be invested to provide amply for the greatest volume of traffic, or was there to be a provision for normal requirements, sufficient to cope reasonably with busy periods? Another acute problem at present was a shortage of materials. A particular order for 500 wagons of a certain type, to be completed last November for the present busy season, had not been delivered because the materials were not yet to hand.

Mr. Casey outlined the administrative organisation of the service, and illustrated the comprehensive nature of the business dealt with by the traffic department, which in the North Island was organised in three districts. The locomotive branch was another vital link in the chain of organisation. This branch had been instrumental in reducing tho smoke nuisance and in minimising whistling where unnecessary. It was the constant aim to co-operate with the public. Tho maintenance branch was also important, and tho men on the maintenance gangs were some of the finest characters in New Zealand. In all weathers, in all conditions, they performed their duties with a fine sense of responsibility. Mr. Casey said he personally was satisfied that in tho 20,000 men of the New Zealand railways staff would be found as great a proportion of honest, sincere men as in any industry. The spirit of service was an admirable one, and those usiug the railways facilities would appreciate that the civility and courtesy of the officers were of a high quality. Of the public, the department asked merely for mutual co-operation, anu help. Complaints and suggestions were not resented, they were invited. Efficient and willing service to the public were tho major objectives of the

Mr. Casey was thanked on the motion of Mr. W. A. Waters, who presid