The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 14, Issue 12 (March 1, 1940)

Railway Progress In New Zealand — general manager's message

Railway Progress In New Zealand
general manager's message

In this, the first issue of the Magazine since my appointment as General Manager, I desire to express my deep appreciation of the many kind messages of congratulation and goodwill which have reached me from within and without the Service, including those from members of the commercial community in all parts of the Dominion.

I particularly appreciate the congratulations conveyed in letters from the various Railway organisations. These letters indicate a personal regard that means much to me following the years in which, as Assistant General Manager, it has been within my special province to deal with staff problems. I realize that it is only with the wholehearted loyalty and co-operation of all the staff that we can, as a team, successfully carry out the progressive policy laid down by the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Railways.

At the present time, the country's work is linked up with the stern needs of war. Hundreds of railwaymen have volunteered and have been accepted for service overseas. They are following the path of duty as they see it—the path the Anzacs trod. To them the best wishes of their fellows in the Department are extended. To those of us who remain falls the duty of carrying on, to the best of our ability, the railway share of New Zealand's internal transport work.

This work is directly related to the war effort in many essential features, particularly in the movement of troops and in the handling of those primary products upon which the Mother Country draws so largely for food and clothing to meet her civil and military needs.

If members of the Service keep this aspect ever in mind it will encourage their best endeavours as railwaymen to provide the most efficient service of which they are capable from day to day, and they will be ready to meet emergencies as they arise, conscious that by so doing they are contributing, in their own allotted sphere, to the cause of Freedom for which the present war is being waged.

General Manager.