The staff of the Hutt Valley Workshops certainly lived up to their reputation for capacity to do things well when their Social Hall was opened on the 15th July.

Skilled craftsmen had helped to make the large hall a bower of delight. A thousand coloured electrics shone through the graceful fronds of giant fern trees. A panoramic view of sea and seashore gave the impression that the glass-like floor ran out upon the beach. It was a great night for the girls; for though the brawny builders of locomotives and wagons rolled up in full strength, a large proportion of them appeared to be unattached, and there were always many men looking on when every lady was skimming through the mazes of the latest thing in “hops.” A fine spirit of hospitality and comradeship was found from the Workshops Manager (Mr. Walworth) right down through all the members of his staff, and had its effect in making all the guests thoroughly enjoy the evening.

The inclusion of social halls at places where large numbers of railwaymen are employed is, of course, part of the scheme for fostering the social and educational intercourse of the railway staffs. This commodious social hall of the Hutt Valley Workshops was officially opened by the Minister of Labour (Hon. W. A. Veitch) in the absence from Wellington of the Minister of Railways (Hon. W. B. Taverner).

Apologies for non-attendance were received from the Prime Minister (Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward), the Minister of Defence (Hon. T. M. Wilford), and the Leader of the Opposition (Right Hon. J. G. Coates).

Workshops Capacity.

In declaring the hall open, the Minister of Labour complimented the Department on the provision of such a fine social hall and expressed the hope that the present gathering would be the forerunner of many of its kind.

“There are few people in New Zealand who realise the quality of work performed by the skilled artisans of the Dominion, particularly in the Railway Workshops, the Minister said. “I have had no experience as a mechanic, but I have driven locomotives over many miles in New Zealand, and the man who handles the train can claim to know something about the quality of the work in it. As the result of many years’ experience with locomotives, I say that there has never been a locomotive put on the railways in New Zealand equal to those built in our own workshops by our own men.”

As further evidence of the skill of the local men, the Minister recalled that during the war the workshops had produced a really serviceable machine-gun, notwithstanding the absence of the special machinery required for such work.

Proceeding, Mr. Veitch said that one of the greatest, if not the greatest, things in life was true friendship; and the hall would provide a common meeting ground for the creation and cementing of the best friendships between the men and between their womenfolk. In his judgment that feature of the institution was the most important, for, without friendship and social intercourse, there was very little in life that was worth while. Gatherings of the future, he hoped, would consolidate the goodwill now being established.

Mrs. T. M. Wilford offered an apology for the absence of the Hon. T. M. Wilford, who was unable to attend, as he had just recovered from an attack of influenza. Mrs. Wilford wished the railwaymen and their wives every happiness in their social gatherings.

Making for Efficiency.

The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr. H. E. Holland) said that the railwaymen of New Zeal-land were engaged in a great social service, since the work of production and distribution depended in the end upon the work of transportation. The service itself, therefore, owed it to the employees that they should be made to feel that the whole of life was not simply to work, but to work and get as much joy and pleasure out of life as possible. He was confident that enjoyment of those amenities would make for greater efficiency in the service the men rendered the community. To-day it was recognised that the best workers were those whose lives were filled with pleasure and who were made to feel that life was worth living.

The General Manager of Railways (Mr. H. H. Sterling) said he believed that it was worth while for an employer to take an interest in his staff outside the hours of work. He had always believed in this, not only from altruistic and humanitarian motives, but because he believed it paid any employer to see that his staff were made happy in their employment. A happy staff meant better work and less strain for the worker. In addition, it led to common understanding—a factor which would prevent difficulties from arising. As facilities for that contact developed, so would grow smooth working in the railways, for the betterment of all concerned.

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