RAILWAY OFFICERS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12185, 9 July 1925, Page 2

RAILWAY OFFICERS

MEET IN CONFERENCE MUTUAL EXPRESSIONS OF GOODWILL ’TWIXT DEPARTMENT AND MEN Their duty to the public and to the department, as well as their own interests as railway officers, was the keynote of the address by the president, Mr J. R. Robertson (Petone), at the opening of the annual conference of the New Zealand Railway Officers* Institute in Wellington yesterday, at which delegates were present from all parts of the Dominion. The Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. Coates,' and members of the Railway Board (Messrs F. J. Jones (chairman), H. H. Sterling, and A. W. Mouat) were also present, and there was a genial exchange of greetings and congratulations. In addition to the president, the delegates included Messrs J. Hannah (Auckland), H. B. Taylor (South AuckldTTid). W. C. Tritt (Main Trank), J. W. EVrgle ("Palmerston North), J. Daniel (Hawke’s Bay), C. C. Whittington (Wanganui), W. A. Finlayson (Wellington), il. G. C. Simmons (North Canterbury), G. D. Smart (Westland), J. Pringle (South Canterbury), J- Duncan (North Otago), M. Curran (Otago), and E. J. Chapman (Southland). Other members of the council were Messrs V. R. J. Stanley (Tuakau), R. S. Skinner (Dunedin), W. J. Smith (Christchurch), vice-presidents, with Mr L. Barclay, general treasurer, and Mr R. L. Morgan, general secretary. In expressing appreciation of the welcome, tne Prime Minister acknowledged that he had received courtesy, assistance. and frankness from r&ilwaymen at all times. There might be differences of opinion, bnt from his knowledge of railway administration he could say that they were desirous of giving the officers a perfectly impartial hearing to their requests, having due' regard to the importance of improving the service: The idea of reorganisation was to place the department in a position to give the best possible service, and in that work he had met with everv possible assistance from the officer* They had accomplished a good deal of the groundwork without dislocation, and so far no hitch had occurred. That would have been impossible without hearty co-operation on bo:h sides. So far they had been able to run side by side in the effort to realise their ideals of service to the community. To make the department efficient* it was essential and necessary tfyat it should function easily and with elasticity in meeting the demands of the community. OUR RIGHT PATH Continuing, Mr Coates said: "I think we should take some encouragement from the remarks of individuals and public organs throughout New Zealand. I thank the public in recognising our efforts towards giving service. You cannot ignore the statements in the Press, and the statements of public men and melt in the country districts are in accord with the work we are doing. That should lend encouragement to the management and the staff to put their best into their work. We could have accomplished nothing without cooperation. We want you to be acquainted with the difficulties of the management, to know what they: mean, and we want you to use vour judgment." Tne Minister dealt with the question of compulsory retirement after 40 years* service, which, with the disadvantage of tile loss of service of valuable officers in many cases, had the compensation of opening up avenues of promotion and initiative m the lower ranks. He believed the general policy of retirement alter 40 years* service had had a beneficial effect on the younger generation, to whom channels of promotion were now open which at one time had seemed impossible. They wanted to encourage men to make themselves competent and efficient, and by process of examination and merit qualify themselves to hold the highest positions. The Minister dwelt also on the value to officers and to the department of opportunities of visits abroad to study tne Working of railways, as New Zealand was somewhat isolated, and to remedy that drawback the department had enlarged its experience by bringing in outsiders This policy was essential for the purpose of getting certain necessary information, and that quickly. As a matter of policy, he did not like it: as a matter of expediency and time, it was essential. Later they would he able to *nnre inducement to the younger men of the service to make the best use of their talents apd qualify for special railway work. STAFF CONTROL It was. proposed to introduce a departmental journal for the collection of every kind of information dealing with the railways, to be a review of monthly progress, showing every railwayman statistics and figures and facts, from this and other countries. They would encourage comment by the staff and the expression of ideas. The Minister spoke also of a Complete overhaul in the matter of staff control, not with the idea of finding fault, but to find out the very best system for New Zealand. Any assistance would he welcome in that direction. The chairman of the Railway Board, Mr Jones. added a few remarks on behalf of the board appreciative of the work of (he institute and of the railwav service in general. The chairman thanked the Minister and the board, emphasising the appreciation by railwayman of the efforts of the administration to improve the service and assist the younger members to amplify for higher positions. He assured the Minister and Hoard of the loval co-opera-tion of, members of the institute.