Biographical

As indicating the range of experience covered by the Suggestions and Inventions Committee members the following brief biographical details are given:—

Mr. Wyles (A.M.I.E.E., M.I.R.S.E.) has had practical railway experience on the railways in England, Scotland, on the Continent, in India and in New Zealand. Educated at Kings College and Finbury Technical College, England, his workshop and practical experience was gained while attached to the Sykes Interlocking Signal Company. Other positions held by Mr. Wyles were those of Engineering Assistant, London and South Western Railways, 1904–1907, Signal Engineer, Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway Company, 1907–1916, Signal Engineer, Rajputana, Malwa Railways, and Assistant Signal and Electrical Engineer, New Zealand Railways, 1916–1926. Mr. Wyles has, on various occasions, undertaken investigations in regard to railway working in England, and other countries and has represented the New Zealand Government Railways at Australasian Officers’ Conferences.

Mr. Rodie (Vice-Chairman) joined the service as a cadet at Edendale in 1894, and in 1896 was transferred to the District Traffic Manager's Office at Invercargill, where he held various positions until transferred to the position of Relieving Officer at Christchurch in 1920. Mr. Rodie was later promoted to Transport Officer, District Traffic Manager's Office, Christchurch, Chief Clerk, District Traffic Manager's Office, Wanganui, and in March, 1924, was promoted to District Traffic Manager, Invercargill. On the institution of a Commercial Branch in August, 1924, Mr. Rodie was transferred to his present position as Commercial Manager, Mr. Rodie has had a wide experience on the Traffic and Operating side of railway work and his work as Commercial Manager has done much to build up the business of the Railways. As Commercial Manager Mr. Rodie represents the Department on the Hutt Valley Railway Committee, and the Government Overseas Publicity Committee.

Mr. S. E. Fay (M.Inst.T.), is Operation and Equipment Assistant for the New Zealand Railways. He has had a varied practical experience of all forms of railway work in England, on the Continent, in Canada and America. During the Great War Mr. Fay acted for a time as Deputy Assistant Director-General of Movements and Railways. He was subsequently appointed Assistant District Superintendent, London Division, Great Central Railway, and prior to coming to New Zealand was Chief Operating Officer of the Sao Paulo Railway, Brazil. He was on the secretarial staff of the Fay-Raven Commission which, in 1924, reported on the working of railways in New Zealand; and is author of the interesting series of articles on Modern Shunting Methods now appearing in this Magazine.

Mr. L. W. Robertson has recently been appointed locomotive engineer for the South Island. He joined the Railway Department as a mechanical engineering cadet in May, 1911, and served his time at the Petone Workshops, and at the Head Office of the Department. Early in 1917 he was promoted to draftsman, and two months later was transferred to the Chief Mechanical Engineer's Office in a similar capacity. In July, 1918, he became Assistant Locomotive Engineer, and was transferred to Addington, where he remained until 1923, when he was promoted to locomotive engineer. Mr. Robertson returned to the Chief Mechanical page 13 Engineer's Office in 1924, and he has held the position of locomotive engineer, attached to that office until promoted to his present position. He will be succeeded on the Suggestions and Inventions Committee by Mr. P. R. Angus, Assistant Chief Mechanical Engineer. Mr. Angus has recently returned from a world tour of investigation on behalf of the New Zealand Railways.

Mr. H. L. P. Smith (A.M.Inst.C.E.), joined the engineering staff of the Railway Department in 1907 and has occupied various positions in the Wanganui, Greymouth and Christchurch districts. In 1921 he took over the duties of Assistant Engineer, Invercargill district and in 1924 was transferred to a similar position in the District Engineer's Office, Auckland. In 1925 he was attached to the staff of the Divisional Superintendent for the North Island, and was recently transferred to the Chief Engineer's Office, Wellington, as Assistant Engineer.

Mr. Smith was a member of the Shunting Inquiry Commission which last year investigated the conditions of work of the shunters in the employ of the New Zealand Government Railways. He has had a wide railway experience covering nearly every section in the Dominion.

Mr. P. R. Angus (A.M.I.Mech.E.), joined the service at Invercargill in 1910, as a Mechanical Engineering Cadet. He gained his practical shop experience at Invercargill and Addington Workshops, and his locomotive running experience at Invercargill. Following this he was transferred

Suggestions And Inventions Committee.
[From left:—Messrs. A. Sutherland, Secretary, H. L. P. Smith, P. R. Angus, G. W. Wyles, D. Rodie, S. E. Fay.

to the Locomotive Drawing Office and remained at work there for approximately two and a half years, leaving this position to proceed overseas with the N.Z. Expeditionary Force. On his return to New Zealand following the war, he was transferred to Auckland as Assistant Locomotive Engineer. Later on he was promoted to the position of Locomotive Engineer at Greymouth and when in this position was chosen to proceed overseas to study railway methods in other countries. On his return he was placed at Christchurch as Locomotive Engineer, and was later appointed to the position of Assistant Chief Mechanical Engineer.

Mr. Allan Sutherland (Secretary), is the secret service man of the Suggestions and Inventions Committee. He gained his traffic experience at a number of stations in the Christchurch and Invercargill districts. On being transferred to Wellington he was attached successively to the staff of the Chief Traffic Manager, the General Superintendent of Transportation and the Commercial Manager. He was Secretary to the North and South Island Railway Boards of Appeal for about three years. For some two years he held the position of Officer in Charge of the Shorthand-Typists staff attached to the Board of Management. Mr. Sutherland is a highly qualified short-hand-writer having passed the highest set Government examination on the subject. His appointment as Government Shorthand Reporter was gazetted some time ago.