Under the above heading the General Manager of the Great Western Railway in a recent message given through the medium of the Company's Magazine comments as follows:—

Travellers of all classes, interests and temperaments have one common characteristic; they all dislike a late train. even passengers upon whose time there is no great call have been known to become very irritable if their train reaches its destination a few minutes behind time, and those who have friends awaiting them, or urgent appointments to fulfil, are naturally far from pleased when trains are late.

The staff can do much to enhance the Company's reputation, and to minimise complaints of late running, by setting before themselves a high standard in time keeping of trains, and making constant effort to achieve punctuality.

Recognising this fact, the Chief Mechanical Engineer and the Superintendent of the Line have issued the following notices to enginemen and station staff respectively:

Notice to Enginemen.

When trains have been delayed and are behind time, every effort should be made to arrive at destination punctually by running at less than scheduled time where possible, but all speed restrictions, both permanent and temporary, must be strictly observed.

Notice to Station Staff.

When trains have been delayed and are behind time, every effort should be made to reduce the time allotted for station work in order that trains may reach their destinations to time.

It is hoped the response of the staff will be reflected in an increased number of punctual arrivals being recorded in the Company's train services.

The making up of time on our own system is a purpose to which the staff in general pay particular attention and some good performance in this respect has been recorded.

Safety, however, is invariably the first consideration, and in this connection it is worth recalling that in a notice to the Locomotive Running staff issued in January of last year the Board of Management drew attention to the fact that the maximum authorised rates of speed shown in working timetables must not, in any circumstances, be exceeded. Lost time may be made up only provided the maximum authorised speed is not exceeded.

It is interesting to note that the average throughout speed of trains (inclusive of stops) in New Zealand last year was:—

Express.-Both Islands, 26.3 miles per hour. North Island, 25.6; South Island, 27.8.

Passenger.-Both Islands, 21.1 miles per hour. North Island, 21.1; South Island, 21.0.

Mixed.-Both Islands 14.5 miles per hour. North Island, 13.8; South Island, 16.3.

Goods.-Both Islands, 13.8 miles per hour. North Island, 13.4; South Island, 14.1.

Good train performance is indicated in the following record of time keeping on our system for the year ending 31st March, 1927:—

Average Late Arrival.-Express and Mail Trains, 5.94 mins.; Long Distance Mixed Trains, 6.12 mins.; Suburban Trains, 0.70 mins.