Biography is full of instances that prove how leadership often develops from some shock to the sensibilities or the senses of the individual. Newton was weakly in body, and a poor student until a schoolmate bigger than himself delivered an unmerited blow beneath the belt. Unable to retaliate in a physical sense, he decided to beat the bully at lessons, and soon topped the class. Another blow—this time on the head—from an apple wind fall in his father's orchard, set his mind in motion to deduce the law of gravity.

Whatever the pre-determining cause, leadership of the supreme kind can be attained only by those with a definite object in view and constant purpose in its pursuit.

It is a new belief that whatever a man really wants he can have. The pursuit of that want makes him a leader, provided he bends all his energies to its attainment. Lord Rosebery's schooldays are remembered best by the confession of ambition made to some pals. “I want,” he said, “to marry an heiress, to be Prime Minister, and to win the Derby!” He reached the limit of his wants, accomplishing all three purposes, and then, having nothing further to wish, just went on winning Derbys, of which he captured three.

No business can make continued success unless it has leadership, in which decision, loyalty, judgment, friendship, courage, and purpose are wisely blended. Probably to every man is given the ability to lead in some one thing. Those who make no progress towards some form of leadership usually just drift from day to day, with no clear purpose, no goal constantly kept in view—just a blind following of the easiest streets in the maze of the problems of life.

The next best thing to being a good leader is to be a good follower.

There are physical, moral and psychological differences between men that, at a certain stage of the game, determine beyond dispute who should lead and who follow. Given a leader of tried capacity there is nothing better in the business world than the spirit of loyalty that, recognising his worth, backs him up, and furnishes that support which enables every well-intentioned decision to reach perfect fruition.

Columbus certainly discovered a new world, but his supreme effort in crossing an unknown ocean was made without moral support from any of the crew of his three vessels. His was a lone struggle towards the triumph of which he was Nelson, who, from his first successful fight, received the full confidence and support, the veritable worship of officers and men throughout the ranks of the British Navy.

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Railway developments in recent years indicate rather the Nelson—the “band of brothers”—type of support than the Columbus, in the staff backing given to the efforts made in making the Railways increasingly responsive to public requirements.

Modern business leadership is the source of the change, and a good fighting spirit (developed from the shock of competition), the resource upon which the Department has mainly depended, and, during our latest year the result has been a definite winning back of business in both passengers and goods traffic. This may be taken as a clear sign that the Railways of this country are past their nadir, and are now leading the way in providing attractive service to the public.

New Zealand's National Game

It is interesting to record that Mr. H. H. Sterling, General Manager of the New Zealand Railways, was elected as a member of the executive body of the New Zealand Rugby Union. Mr. Sterling has been associated with New Zealand's national game for a number of years, having been a member of the branch committees of the Rugby Unions in the various districts of New Zealand in which he has been located. His appointment to an executive position on the parent body will be pleasing to the whole of the railway service.

It is interesting to note that among the delegates at the annual meeting, when the above election took place, was Mr. E. Casey, Divisional Superintendent in the North Island, who is one of the Auckland Rugby Union representatives

Retirement of Mr. Wynne

The retirement, last month, of Mr. H. J. Wynne, who, for the last twenty years, has controlled the destinies of the Railways Signal and Electrical Branch, was an important event in connection with railway matters. Mr. Wynne had so appealing a personality that everyone in the Department with whom he was associated came to regard him as a close personal friend. He had most progressive ideas, and, from the time of his arrival in the Dominion, when the signalling system of the railways was undeveloped, he took a leading part in building up this important service until today, in some aspects of signalling, it has few rivals in the world—notably in long distance signal installations. New Zealand had, for some time, the longest stretch of single line automatic track in the world, that is, from Arthur's Pass to Stillwater Junction.

On his retirement from the service, Mr. Wynne carries with him the good wishes of all the staff for his future health and prosperity.

The Late Mr. Burnett

Mr. James Burnett, whose death, at a ripe old age, was announced during the past month, was a man who made a definite mark on railway development in New Zealand. After occupying various positions in the service he attained the position of Chief Engineer, which he held for a number of years.

Mr. Burnett was a man of very decided opinions, and did much towards heightening the regard in which engineering practice in New Zealand is held by the engineering fraternity.

After his retirement from the service he carried on his work in another direction by helping to organise efforts in connection with the Red Cross movement. His services to that body were of so special a character that he gained universal esteem.

Farmers' Excursions

None of the enterprises that have been undertaken by the Railways Department in recent years has given a more gratifying proof of the fact that they are supplying a service pleasing to the Department's clients than the various Farmers' Excursions that have been organised.

This movement was started about three years ago, and from the first trip, when special efforts were made to make the outing attractive, the movement has extended until, this season, four major Farmers' Excursions are being run through the Dominion. These are now on, the winter being the time at which farmers can most conveniently be spared from the work on the land to pay visits to other parts of the Dominion. Two big excursions are being run from the South Island to the South. So popular have these excursions become, that, in Christchurch, it was found necessary to arrange for the despatch of two trains to convey the Canterbury farmers. Each of the excursions has been filled up from nominations received in the districts, without any special advertising by the Railway Department.