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

[section]

On taking over the Portfolio of Railways, I entered upon my duties with an open and, let me be frank, a somewhat perplexed mind. The practical working side of the business was new to me. I was a novice and I knew it. This last was, perhaps, half the battle. I soon realised that I must put aside all preconceived notions of how this, that and the other thing ought to be done, and listen, with every endeavour to understand, to the statements and explanations of those who, in these things, spoke with the voice of authority, backed by theoretic knowledge and practical experience. This done, after much searching, sifting and analysing, the position, as it appeared to me, resolved itself into a recognition of the fact that what our Railway System stood most in need of at the time was a specific policy. That point reached, the next step was to formulate such a policy. This was not as easy as it may appear to some. Soon, however, circumstances forced me to the conclusion that a particular feature of our Railway policy must be the recognition that, while the commercial aspect of the undertaking was of most vital concern, our aim must not be merely to pile up profits for the Government, but to render the best possible service to the public by the adoption of advanced commercial methods in every branch of the System. That conviction reached, we immediately went about setting our house in order. There were many vexatious delays—a hindrance here that had to be removed, a rough corner there that had to be negotiated with care, and, that most unreasonable and likewise most obstinate of obstacles, “It has always been done this way,” which to be removed must be simply but emphatically ignored—and it was! Several drastic changes were introduced. One-man-management gave place to a Managerial Board of three. A Commission, consisting of eminent Railway experts from the Old Country, were taken over our Railways with a view to their advising the Minister and the Government as to the more efficient and economical working of the System. Their Report, after being considered by the Government, was made public and steps taken to act upon such of their recommendations as could be put immediately into effect. The more important of their recommendations, involving heavy expense on the part of the Department, will be pushed ahead with all possible expedition. Fuller particulars of these appear in another part of this issue of our “Magazine.” (See page 46.) I would mention here, however, a change that already has met with marked appreciation on the part of the travelling public, namely the appointment of Divisional Superintendents for North and South Islands respectively. This has been found to yield a more personal form of management and has given greater freedom for the settlement of matters of detail.

Much yet remains to be done. Let me briefly outline the chief points of the various issues facing the Administration.