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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 5 (September 1, 1928)

Notes of the Month

page 48

Notes of the Month

The experiences of our Business Agents in the course of their efforts to secure additional traffic for the Department would supply columns of entertaining reading matter were these ambassadors of transport given to talking about their own doings. But their habit is rather to do the job and say nothing. Two instances have come under notice recently that go to show their thorough and effective work.

A shipping company manager was approached with a proposition to which, after discussion, he agreed. Upon being asked whether he would like to study the details prepared by the Department he said—“Oh, no; there is no need. I have always found the information you provide so reliable that further checking is unnecessary.”

In the other case a farmer, who had been hard to win, finally said to the Business Agent: “Well, you deserve to be rewarded for your persistence. Give me your hand; I'll give you my business!”

* * *

Speaking at Feilding recently, the General Manager gave a graphic review of the history of transport preliminary to an expression of definite opinions upon the present transport problem and its probable future developments. There is probably no more absorbing study than the history of the business upon which one is engaged, and no thorough understanding of the needs of commerce, and the part the railways are capable of playing to supply those needs, is possible, unless the effect of the actions and reactions of past times can be used as an aid to judgment. Every railwayman should make a point of getting to know all he can about the history of railways and other methods of transport in order to assist intelligently in the work of his own Department.

* * *

Stationmasters and their staffs have frequent opportunities for gaining the goodwill of customers and also for securing new business for the Department. Talking with a stationmaster from the north the other day, he explained the wonderful success he had in getting the wool traffic of the neighbourhood. A keen footballer himself, he made a point of going out to every match possible during the season, and then, at the social evenings that invariably follow such events, he talked wool to a willing audience and came away with enough orders for wagons to worry the transport office for weeks. Combining business with pleasure is a profitable employment for spare time and can be indulged in greatly by our own people, no matter what their occupation, if they are keen on their job.

* * *

If anything was more surprising than the terrific pounding the Wellington-Petone sea wall received during the recent great southerly storm, it was the wonderful speed with which the Maintenance men set about repairing the thirty-odd breaches. With a heavy sea running, wet to the skin with spindrift and rain, and working in the freezing cold of one of Wellington's most wintry days, the men who keep the track made amazing progress in putting the first line in order for through traffic; and the travelling public could scarcely believe their eyes when they saw trains running along the sea edge by four o'clock the following afternoon. It is in cases of emergency that the true spirit animating the Maintenance track gangs has a chance to show its excellence.

* * *

The Spring Excursions of the Department have provided another busy time at stations. It is noted, too, that the publicity methods adopted by the Department have attracted attention in the advertising world. A writer upon advertising pointed out what he considered to be a defect in one of our Spring Excursion advertisements. The advertisement said “save 30 per cent.” The writer said it should have been “save 6/- in the £.”

He was, of course, quoting the American idea of advertising, where, owing to a different psychology and the use of the metric system other methods for advertising are considered available. But in this country it is quite immaterial whether 30 in the 100, 6 in the 20, or 3 in 10 be quoted, our people are all capable of seeing at a glance that nearly one third is saved. The position would, of course, be different if actual fares between stations were being quoted. There, simplicity is secured by stating the actual amount of saving (as has been done in the case of “sample fares”), but that method cannot be adopted when an average for the whole Dominion is required.

page 49

Arising out of an accident which occurred on the Culverden-Christchurch line when a jack fell on the track from the tender of an “Ab” engine, arrangements have been made by the Locomotive Branch to prevent the possibility of anything of the kind again happening. A pocket will be provided in the tender of the engines, from which it will be impossible for an engine jack to fall.

* * *

Fruitgrowers will be pleased to know that drawings have been prepared which provide for further ventilation in the standard “Xa” fruit wagon, and that the new ventilation will be available for the next fruit season. The arrangement referred to has been made in accordance with representations put forward by the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Association.

* * *

Extensive experiments have been made by the Chief Mechanical Engineer's office, acting in conjunction with the Government Scientific Research organisation, in regard to the insulation of meat wagons, and it is anticipated that an exceptionally
Champions Of The Road And Air. Leaving Croydon, London, on 15th June, simultaneously with the departure of the Flying Scotsman from King's Cross Station, the air liner, City of Glasgow, made a flight to Edinburgh. The flying party arrived in Edinburgh a couple of minutes after the train which steamed in ten minutes ahead of time. It is stated that the journey was not intended as a race, but was made with a view to giving an idea of the comfort of an air journey over this route in approximately the same time as is taken by the train. The view shows the train on the Royal Border Bridge, Berwick, and the air liner above it.

Champions Of The Road And Air.
Leaving Croydon, London, on 15th June, simultaneously with the departure of the Flying Scotsman from King's Cross Station, the air liner, City of Glasgow, made a flight to Edinburgh. The flying party arrived in Edinburgh a couple of minutes after the train which steamed in ten minutes ahead of time. It is stated that the journey was not intended as a race, but was made with a view to giving an idea of the comfort of an air journey over this route in approximately the same time as is taken by the train. The view shows the train on the Royal Border Bridge, Berwick, and the air liner above it.

effective means of insulation will be brought into use upon wagons employed for the conveyance of meat and dairy produce.

* * *

It is interesting to note that up to a recent date 102 sections have been purchased as sites for houses to be occupied by employees transferred under the Workshops re-organisation scheme, at a total cost of £20,000.

* * *

The Advertising Branch has shown a substantial revival in business since the commencement of the current financial year. This is taken to be, in some respects, due to the improved trade conditions in the Dominion.

* * *

Some concern was expressed in Wellington recently when it was seen that one of the dredges engaged upon pumping spoil for the reclamation of Wellington's new station yard had been with drawn. The position, however, was merely that the spoil had reached a height where it became necessary to stop one dredge pending the completion of the storm water culverts.