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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 4 (August 24, 1926)

Conference Supersedes Correspondence. Progress in Efficiency and Team Work

Conference Supersedes Correspondence. Progress in Efficiency and Team Work.

Conferences of all District Officers in the North Island were held during the third week of July.

On the 20th of that month the Conference of District Traffic Managers was opened. Mr. E. Casey, Acting Divisional Superintendent, presided, and there were also present Messrs. J. Rickerby and B. R. Sword, Auckland; J. Cameron, Wellington; H. A. Penn, Ohakune; and P. H. Hartland, Acting District Traffic Manager, Wanganui.

The operations for the previous quarter were reviewed with a view to making further improvements in train running and transport work generally. A comprehensive agenda paper was discussed including, among other matters, improvements in the working timetable, the reduction in the number of special trains, the matters of booking office organisation and the checking and collection of tickets. A new system for supervision of tablet stations was considered and the method of compilation of statistical returns was also discussed.

At a joint Conference of District Traffic Managers, District Engineers and the Locomotive Engineer matters jointly affecting all Branches were considered, and it was decided that a fixed weekly Conference should be held between District Officers in each centre with a view to discussing outstanding matters affecting the various Branches, arranging for joint inspection and reports, and generally securing uniformity and prompt efficiency in dealing with the Department's business.

The District Engineers' Conference commenced on July 22nd and, in addition to the Divisional Superintendent, was attended by Messrs. J. K. Lowe, Auckland; C. T. Jeffreys, Wellington; W. R. B. Bagge, Ohakune; and H. W. Beasley, Wanganui.

A lengthy agenda paper dealing with improvements to track calculated to effect economy in maintenance, the economical use of work trains, the re-arrangement of gang lengths with a view to securing economy while maintaining a good standard of efficiency, and the elimination of unnecessary level crossings received consideration.

Opportunity was also afforded to the visiting engineers to inspect the new works under construction in Auckland, and general surprise was expressed both at their magnitude and the progress made to date.

At the conclusion of the Conference the engineers had the pleasure of meeting Mr. D. T. McIntosh, late District Engineer, under whom the Divisional Superintendent and all the District Engineers present at the Conference had served for a considerable number of years.

General appreciation of the good effect of periodical Conferences was expressed by all the officers who attended, and the result must be not only an increase of efficiency in the separate branches, but better team work and a better understanding between the various officers of the Department.

In compiling a souvenir booklet in connection with the Farmers' excursion train on its recent run through the King Country, we were greatly aided by the information supplied through the medium of a questionnaire sent to those in charge of stations throughout that district. Some members had taken great trouble to supply accurate information, and most of the reports indicated that the staff have a very through knowledge of the farming position in their immediate neighbourhood. The report of the caretaker (Mr. W. F. Marten) at Ngaroto was one of the best, whilst among the tablet station reports, those from Te Kawa, Porootarao, Okahukura, Manunui, and Kakahi were particularly interesting. The covering reports from station-masters were very helpful, those from Mataroa and Utiku being especially lucid.

* * *

Remarkable evidence of the durability of the heavy rails used in the Lyttelton tunnel was supplied when the Department recently renewed a section of about 25 chains near the Lyttelton end. The type used is the same as that in the Otira tunnel, 100lb. rails, which are the heaviest on any section of line in the South Island. In both instances the traffic is exceptionally heavy. The rails which were replaced were laid in 1907, yet, when they were lifted, it was found that they had suffered a great deal more from corrosion than from wear.