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Valedictory

Mr. H. H. Sterling, who recently re-retired from the Railway Board of Management to take up an appointment as General Manager of the N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Company, was born in Christchurch in 1886.

He was educated in primary schools in Christchurch, winning a Board of Education Scholarship which took him to the Christchurch Boys High School.

Upon leaving the High School he joined the Railway Service in Christchurch as a Cadet and was at the time of his resignation in the 25th year of his service. After some six years of general station work in Canterbury, Mr. Sterling exchanged to Otago. He spent some years in the District Manager's Office in Dunedin and during that time studied at the Otago University, graduating LL.B., in 1917 and was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor. He also studied Economics and Advanced Mental and Moral Philosophy with a view to proceeding to the Arts degree, but his studies at Otago University were terminated by transfer in April, 1918, to the Head Office at Wellington. In 1919 Mr. Sterling was appointed Law Officer of the Department and in 1924 was made an Assistant General Manager.

After the Board of Management was constituted to take over the general management of the Department he was appointed a member and placed in immediate control of the Commercial, Legal, Land, Statistical and Rating (Tariff) Branches.

Mr. Sterling's career in the Railway Department has been quite exceptional, he having attained to one of the highest and most responsible positions in the Public Service of New Zealand at an unusually early age. This indicated a standard of ability above the average, while the reputation that he bears shows him to be of unexceptionable character and high integrity. These qualities, together with the first hand experience he has had in dealing with commercial, financial, legal and other problems that arose in connection with the organisation and operation of a large-scale business, should eminently fit him for the position to which he has now been appointed. Mr. Sterling was largely responsible for the new railway tariff, a work of considerable magnitude and importance, and the fact that this Tariff, involving as it did some increases of rates, was carried through and agreements arrived at with all the large interests affected, has no doubt materially contributed to secure to Mr. Sterling the confidence of the commercial community.

Mr. Sterling has also been active in developing the work of the Commercial Branch. The success attending the working of that Branch under his regime has undoubtedly been a great factor in effecting the remarkable change for the better that has taken place in the attitude of the commercial community and the public generally towards the Railways, and the new spirit of service that is now permeating the whole of the operations of the Department where they come into contact with the public.

Outside his official life Mr. Sterling took a keen interest in Rugby football, and last year was a member of the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union.

We are sure that he leaves the Railway Service with the regret of the great body of railwaymen in New Zealand and their best wishes for his success in his new venture.