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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 1 (May 1st, 1926)

[section]

Statement by the Minister of Railways

Opportunity for Everyone

Under a new system adopted for promotion in the Service, and to provide vocational training throughout the Service to those requiring it, the outlook for members has been greatly improved. A definite establishment has been decided on for all branches and sub-branches of the Department. This establishment is to become operative after full inquiry by the Staff Superintendent and thereafter will be departed from only in cases of emergency.

A system of marking under an established standard, which will ensure that special attention is directed to officers of special merit and ability and, vice versa, to any demerits or disabilities, is being adopted in connection with the annual reports of controlling officers. Steps will be taken to ensure proper co-ordination in the marking, the reports when completed being subject to the careful scrutiny of the Management. I anticipate that this system will replace the Round Table Conference as soon as it is thoroughly installed.

In further development of the idea of giving all members equality of opportunity, applications will be called for the various senior positions falling vacant from time to time. It is hoped by this means to suit the convenience of members better than under the present arrangement whereby positions falling vacant were filled in rotative order, and members failing to accept such positions were, in general, required to stand down from promotion for two years. Under this system the fact that a member may not choose to apply for a higher position falling vacant will not, in any way, affect his chance of securing appointment to any subsequent vacancy for which he may desire to apply. Merit will be the sole consideration.

Included in the staff re-organisation problem is the question of regrading positions. This work is at present in hand.

Under a new system adopted from the commencement of the current year, cadets entering the Traffic Branch are given four months in a Departmental training school at Wellington. Here they are taught the elements of station work and telegraphy, and lectured daily by thoroughly qualified instructors on such subjects as tariff charges and regulations, station accounts, and the fundamental principles of train working. Included in the curriculum are special talks on business getting, courtesy, behaviour, health, habits, self-reliance and ambition, the purpose being to mould the minds of these young beginners in such a way as will induce in them a proper attitude towards the Department and the public; to make them useful citizens and capable business men, with sustained interest in, and enthusiasm for, the welfare of the service to which they have linked their present energies and future hopes.

A boy who has attended well to the course of tuition given in the training class (which includes also a certain amount of homework and frequent examination tests) should be capable at the end of that period of passing the first of the series of examinations adopted under the new staffing system. He will, however, be allowed a longer time in which to pass.