The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 4 (August 1, 1928)
The Age of Ease
The Age of Ease
If the period of the French Revolution justly earned the cynic's title of “The Age of Reason,” the present stage of world history deserves to be called, in all seriousness, the Age of Ease.
Never have the peoples of the world worked harder to make things easier for themselves than during recent years. With a vast increase in wealth since the War, has come a strong determination to secure for the individual those things that help to smooth the course of life.
In this Dominion, where the per capita wealth is now higher than that of any other country, the tendency of the times tells in the same direction.
Taking advantage of the great natural resources of soil and climate at their disposal, our primary producers are adopting, with marked effect, the latest discoveries of science and triumphs of invention to the purposes of increased production. No one who has seen a modern New Zealand farm and is in a position to compare it with the typical farm of twenty years ago, can fail to be impressed with the aids to ease introduced to make farming not only a more profitable, but also a more comfortable occupation.
In the towns, too, all kinds of short cuts for getting through the work of the day with greater ease and celerity are used. And in the homes the modern fittings and appliances aid the housewife and make the whole business of living a more easeful and luxurious affair.
When the question of rents is considered, and comparisons are made with the low rates prevailing early in this century, it is seldom that the benefits of improvements in the services available are taken into account.
Modern drainage systems, hot water systems, transport facilities available at the door, better streets, electric power and lighting, playing areas, and improvements in civic services generally, have added to the actual value received for the rents paid.
The rapidity with which this country, while keeping pace with all these new amenities of life, is shaking off the financial shackles of the war period and the subsequent difficult term of readjustment followed by the inevitable trade depression, shows that it possesses a radium-like vitality and an unconquerable spirit that would apply the cold douche to the most hardened pessimist. Such a spirit, in fact, as that complained of by the cannibal chief:
“I shouldn't have eaten that missionary steak,”
Said the cannibal chief with a frown.
“For oft’ have I heard the old proverb.
‘You can't keep a good man down!’”
But returning to the question of comfort, it is noteworthy that the railways everywhere have been challenged to bring their services up to the higher standard expected under the new order. On our own lines great improvements have been already introduced, and others are under way. The newly designed day-car, described in this issue, is an example of what is being done to make for further ease in travel, and to assist towards that higher standard of comfort which is among the public benefits that lie within the power of our national transportation system.
This is one of the directions along which the Service may work in its effort to achieve the ideal set before it by the General Manager in his Dunedin speech, as a principal objective of his management, namely, “to increase the sum total of happiness in this country.”
A Handsome Compliment
Mr. J. L. Wheeler, Junior, of Pacific Tours Limited, San Francisco (an American Tourist Company that caters for the South Sea Islands and Dominion tourist traffic, and which brings to the Dominion about 200 tourists each year), arrived in Auckland a few days ago, and, in the course of an interview, paid a handsome compliment to the New Zealand railways. After a reference to the unique tourist attractions of New Zealand Mr. Wheeler referred to our railways as follows:—
“I must say a good word for your railways. I have travelled in all parts of the world, and my experience is that your railways are hard to beat. Officials are courteous and helpful, and travelling comfortable. I will go so far as to say that if it were not for the railways I would not be bringing a party here at all.”
The Late Mr. H. C. Guinness
The passing of the late Mr. Guinness removes from our midst a railway officer of outstanding ability, and a gentleman who had endeared himself to a large circle of friends.
Mr. Guinness's devotion to duty was a marked trait in his character. He set a high standard of service as well as a fine example for the younger men of the service with whom he was associated.
We remember him years ago as a cadet at Featherston, keenly alert and capable, and his subsequent career, wherein he was tested in all kinds of capacities, went to prove him a man of exceptional merit. At Christchurch he had much opportunity for bringing into play his executive capacity, and he was one of the first officers of the Department to adapt his railway training to the new commercial spirit required in handling the affairs of the Department.
Mr. Guinness was a man of vision and enterprise, who can ill be spared from the ranks of the Department. He had already reached, at a comparatively early age, one of the most important executive positions in the Department. Referring to the institution and success of the Otira excursions, a contemporary writes:—
The success of these excursions was due in no small measure to the perseverance and energy put into the organising work by Mr. Guinness personally. In all his railway appointments, his work was characterised by farsightedness and energy. He was dersevedly popular with the business people with whom he came in contact, for he was imbued with the idea that the railways should provide whatever services the public really wanted and that they should cater for all.
The sympathy and regrets of the whole railway staff will go out to Mrs. Guinness and family in their bereavement.
Vanished Glory of the Pink Terrace
“Not the violet, not the harbell, nearest to its tint of all Nature's flowers: not torquoise, not sapphire, not the unfathomable ether itself could convey to one who had not looked on it a sense of that supernatural loveliness.”—Froude