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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 5, Issue 4 (August 1, 1930)

Current Commnts

page 17

Current Commnts

The Work Value of a Railwayman.

Speaking in the House of Representatives on 30th July, the Hon. W. A. Veitch, Minister of Railways, quoted some interesting figures showing the value of each employee of the Department in terms of passengers carried and goods transported. “For every employee in 1929–30 a total of 1,479 passengers were carried, and 401 tons of goods,” said Mr. Veitch. “During the last five years the average per employee was 1,488 passengers and 401 tons. For the five years 1906–10 the number of passengers carried per employee was 1,254 and the number of tons 412. It would be seen that passengers per employee had increased by 234, freight falling by 11 tons. Miner's work was often judged on a similar standard, and it was only fair to railwaymen to see their work value compared.”

* * *

“For Your Information.”

Red tape was distinctly absent from the treatment accorded to a written reproof for smoking on duty sent to a subordinate by a recently-promoted officer in the old railway days, referred to reminiscently at the recent Railway Officers’ Reunion by the Hon. S. G. Smith. Met some days afterwards by the officer, the delinquent was sternly asked if he had the letter. “No,” he replied. “I sent it to your brother Bill in Dunedin to let him see how fast you were getting on.”

* * *

Safety on the Highways.

According to the Christian Science Monitor, the campaign for greater highway safety probably has received nowhere a greater impetus than in New Jersey, U.S.A., where nearly 11,000 employees of the Bell Telephone system, including 1,800 of the company's drivers, have adopted a resolution which reads in part:

To obey traffic laws and regulations; to drive carefully …; to grant right of way freely and willingly; to be regardful of pedestrians, particularly children and elderly persons… and to so operate vehicles as to reflect credit on my company, myself and fellow drivers.

* * *

The Modern Sleeping Car.

The modern sleeping-car is just as wonderful a vehicle in its own sphere as the twentieth century dining car. On the Home railways, each first-class berth in the sleeping-car is a separate compartment, and is fitted with a box-spring mattress, like an ordinary bed. The cars are specially sprung to reduce oscillation to a minimum. The light in the compartment may be kept on full or dimmed at the passenger's will, and a reading lamp is provided. Hot and cold water, with lavatory basin, are installed in each compartment, and when the time comes for the morning clean-up there is no frantic sprinting to a lavatory situated at one end of the car.

In addition to the first-class sleepers, third-class sleeping-cars operated at reduced tariffs, are run between London and Scotland, London and Holyhead, and London and Cornwall. These cars have seven compartments, each accommodating four sleepers. For businessmen to whom time spells money, and for tourists who wish to see as much of the Homeland as possible in a limited time, the sleeping-cars, both first and third-class, are of the utmost utility.