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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 10 (February 1, 1928)

[section]

The Annual Railway Statement is always interesting reading to me. Under the heading, “Stores,” it is noted in the recent Statement submitted to Parliament by the Rt. Hon. the Minister of Railways that, since 1925, reorganisation has been taking place and is now about completed.

I therefore think the time opportune to make several suggestions relative to the use of stores. In so doing I do not wish to cast any reflection on supplying, certifying or other officers, but I do contend there is room for considerable economy in the supply and use of stores. Take, for example, departments other than the traffic. One does not find a fitter being given half a dozen bolts when one will do, nor a carpenter 100ft. of timber when 50 will do, nor is an enginedriver, on taking his engine out for his day's run, given waste, oil, etc., ad libitum. The requirements, in each case, are known, the issue of stores for the work to be performed being no more than is adequate. With regard to officers certifying requisitions to the Storekeeper, it is hardly to be expected, under present conditions, that the latter will have time to go into the pros and cons of why a certain man having only four semaphore lamps to maintain, requisitions 1 c/s of kerosene per month. The Storekeeper should, in such a case, be in a position to know the actual requirements. The same thing is applicable to the majority of stores supplied. I claim, after 40 years' experience of the use of stores, (including a period of the responsibility for issuing same to staff on the English railways) to have a good knowledge of their use and service.

I will now enumerate at random several articles and endeavour to set forth their uses, service, etc., with suggestions regarding the same, and hints where waste might occur.

First take the question of old brushes and mops.

These, when of no further use, should be returned to the Storekeeper.

I would suggest that old mops and old brushes, in fact any old stores for which a market as “marine” could be found, be returned to Storekeeper. (Worn out stores on the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway are so returned and, as there is more scope in England than here for the sale of such worn out material, it finds ready purchasers.)

Napier Railway Football Team, 1927. Back row.—S. R. Russell, H. H. Steele, R. Nelson, A. J. Wyett, A. A. Cohen, A. H. Dunn. Second row.—H. McKinnon, E. M. Hicky, H. N.Cohen, J. R. Aitken (captain), A. L. Dick, W. L.Stewart, A. Dickinson, E. Reid. Front row.—J. Sinclair, I. H. Fearon, Tommy Hayes, J. W. Watson.

Napier Railway Football Team, 1927.
Back row.—S. R. Russell, H. H. Steele, R. Nelson, A. J. Wyett, A. A. Cohen, A. H. Dunn.
Second row.—H. McKinnon, E. M. Hicky, H. N.Cohen, J. R. Aitken (captain), A. L. Dick, W. L.Stewart, A. Dickinson, E. Reid.
Front row.—J. Sinclair, I. H. Fearon, Tommy Hayes, J. W. Watson.

With regard to mops—if of New Zealand manufacture, those in use at the present time have a galvanised socket for the insertion of the handle. These sockets are in as sound a condition when the mop is worn out as when new. As some hundreds of mops must be used and the manufacturer has to buy the sockets, there is the presumption that a market might be found for them. With regard to brushes (platform and other)—if these were returned to the stores they could, at the least, be used as firing. If in the Storekeeper's opinion the best had not been got out of the mops or the brushes, then such articles should be re-issued for further use. From personal experience I know that men have returned brushes to be renewed—brushes that were still of considerable use for cleaning purposes. “Not worn out yet” they were told, and it was surprising how much further efficient use was got out of such articles. One knows, of course, that a new broom sweeps easier than an old one, but, if a brush has not outlived its usefulness, why renew!