RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1928, Page 8

RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

There will be general satisfaction with the note struck by the new General Manager of Railways (Mr. H. H. Sterling) in his first public speech since he accepted the appointment. Speaking at a gathering of commercial travellers and business men in Auckland last week, Mr. Sterling said that in his opinion the primary need of the railways was a spirit of co-operation between those responsible for the conduct of the railways and the general public which uses the services. He recognised, he said, that if this was to be brought about it would be necessary for candour to be used on both sides, and he promised that so far as the railway officers were concerned there should be nothing lacking in this respect. Mr. Sterling said he was able to make this promise because he was aware that he was but enunciating the policy laid down by the Minister of Railways (Rt. Hon. J.' G. Coates). The new permanent head of the Railway Department has a heavy task ahead of him. He has to face competition that is stronger than any of his predecessors experienced, and if he can succeed in meeting this and in creating new avenues of service for his department he will prove, as all hope he may, that the New Zealand trained official is able to fill with satisfaction the most difficult position the public service holds. Many will see in the viewpoint expressed by Mr. Sterling the value of the commercial experience he has been accumulating since he left the service he is now rejoining. Such experience formed no part of the training of former general managers, and, able officials as they were, there is no doubt their views were more likely to be rigidly official than will be those of an officer who has known the railways as the department is known by the ordinary commercial man. railway officials generally are keen to assist the public and to do their work thoroughly and well is a claim the department is entitled to make. If, in addition, the new general manager is able to awaken the spirit of co-operation with the service by the public there seems no reason why prosperity should not again attend the operations of the railways of the Dominion.