RAILWAY CARS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21769, 7 April 1934, Page 12

RAILWAY CARS

NEW STOCK NEEDED ACTIVITY at otahuhu WORK AT FULL PRESSURE EMPLOYMENT OF LARGE STAFF The substantial increase in the not revenue from the railways estimated by the general manager, Mr. G. H. Mackley, for the year ending March 31, has been reflector! in the exceptional activity in replacement and maintenance work at the Otahuhu railway workshops during the past nine months. In consequence of the greater patronage of the railways there has been a corresponding increase in the demand for additional rolling stock during the past year and the Otahuhu workshops have been working afc full pressure with an augmented staff since the middle of last year. It would be incorrect, however, to attribute the whole of this activity, and the additional employment which has been created, to the stimulus of increased traffic on the railways over the past 12 months. While it would be correct to apportion a considerable amount of the activity to that source, it has to bo remembered that for two years preceding the 1933 building programme thy Railways Board severely pruned expenditure on replacement and maintenance of rolling stock. J. he cuitailment of operations resulted in the Otahuhu workshops' staff being considerably reduced.

Accumulated Work 'When the 1933 building programme for the Otahuhu shops was released last year it was recognised that it embraced work which had accumulated as a result of the previous lean years. But even after discounting this factor, it was claimed that the 1933 programme of work for Otahuhu was the most comprehensive assigned to the workshops since they were opened. With this heavy schedule of work in hand over 200 workmen were re-engaged at the Otahuhu shops in July of last year. Practically all these men had for many years been employed as per-manent-casuals, and their reabsorption in industry incidentally relieved the unemployment lists in the Auckland district. Many of the men had been for upward of two years on relief work when recalled to the workshops.

In previous years the workshops' staff has invariably managed to complete its annual building programme by the end of each financial year, March 31, and in certain years actually 'exhausted its work schedule several weeks ahead of that date. The first months of new financial years have generally been recognised as ebb periods of activity, when non-permanent hands were suspended until fresh building programmes were received. This year the reverse is the position, and in spite of a marked speeding-up of work and substantial additions to the workshops' staff there remains a considerable portion of the 1933 programme to be completed. It has been reported that there is a possibility of additional hands being engaged to expedite the completion of the balance of work. Coaches and Waggons

The carry-over of the 1933 programme is understood to provide at least four months' work for the full staff. Of,the work listed for completion there are 22 main line passenger coaches and 16 new waggons for carriage of produce yet to be constructed. Only the preparatory milling and certain structural work has so far been carried out. In addition, there are over 100 passenger coaches awaiting alterations in the way of improved seating and other appointments. There is also on order for early delivery several of the specially-designed waggons for the transport of chilled meat. The Dominion's entry in this trade last year had an influence on the activities at the Otaliuhu shops, and a number of these new type waggons were constructed there some months ago. Simultaneously with this new construction programme there has to be carried out ordinary repair and maintenance work on damaged and worn-out rolling stock. It is anticipated that the 1934 building programme will "be issued before the 1933 schedule of work is completed. Judging from the increased railway traffic and the consequent increased demand for rolling stock it is expected that the workshops will be working at full pressure throughout the coming year. It is stated that the demand for cars is so insistent that there is a likelihood of a night shift being employed to expedite delivery of work. At present there are just over 900 men employed at the Otahuhu workshops.