LOYALTY OF STAFF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19512, 16 December 1926, Page 14

LOYALTY OF STAFF.

TRIBUTE FROM MR. COATES. GRATIFIED WITH PROGRESS. MUCH STILL TO BE DONE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The important period through which the New Zealand railways have passed in the light of a policy which aims at complete reconstruction is commented upon by the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, in the course of a Christmas mes- ' sage he has cabled to the members of the railway service throughout the Dominion. Mr. Coates expresses his entire faith in the unswerving loyalty of the staff to complete the task undertaken. The message is:— "I wish to extend to the whole staff my best wishes for the festive season 1926-27 It marks the passing of another historical year in the working of the New Zealand railways, and records further proof of the splendid response and co-operation of the staff in accomplishing the reconstruction of the Dominion's largest -industry. Much remains to be done to complete the task and I earnestly seek » continuation of the whole-hearted loyalty and sympathy displayed by you all in achieving the results already obtained. To secure efficiency in management, organisation and service is the aim and duty of us all. Without it progress from every point of view is impossible. "We must march with the times if the railways are going; to maintain their position as the Dominion's leading transport system. While the past year's operations can be taken as exceedingly gratifying difficulties have yet to be overcome. , Many improvements are indispensable to enable the system to deal efficiently with the service now demanded. I desire to express my appreciation of the splendid services rendered and to say that I have entire faith in the unswerving loyalty of the staff to ably complete the task that has been so well begun." The Acting-Minister of Railways, Hon. F J. Rolleston, has issued the following greetings:—"l wish, as ActingMinister of Railways, to join with the Prime Minister in his good wishes. It has been a great pleasure to me to he associated with the staff of this great department of State and to kr.ow and appreciate their loyal service. To one and all I wish a bright Christmas and a happy new year." , CRITICISM OF CHARGES. EDUCATION BOARD'S EXPERIENCE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The question of roads versus railways was mentioned at to-day's meeting of the Wellington Education Board. It was stated by the chairman, Mr. T. Forsyth, M.P., that for the joinery work recently carried out in a Wellington school it had been found cheaper to get the material from the country. It had also been cheaper to bring the material all the way by - motor-lorry than by railway. The Railway Department, however, had taken exception to this and suggested that the material should have been railed to Wellington, lorries being used only to confvey it to and from the station at each .end. ' ' " . ' ' "The Railway Department should put i :its house in order before complaining/' was the comment of Mr. G. T. London. He added that it cost him one shilling to send a parcel from Petone to' Wellington, ,'ia distance of seven miles, yet the Railway Department advertised that it would carry a parcel 150 miles, for sixpence. He had been told that the shilling included delivery, but that sum was charged in full whether delivery was wanted or not. As a matter of fact any carrier would charge only sixpence and that would include delivery Other speakers suggested that the •Railway Department should be supported . wherever possible. The railways { be- ■ longed to the people and could not be ■ scrapped. They were in competition with those who were here to-day and igone to-morrow. Residents near the ; cities' had many advantages granted by 'the railways which more than set off any small anomalies.