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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 8, Issue 7 (November 1, 1933)
Employee Welfare on the Home Railways
Employee Welfare on the Home Railways.
The well-being of their employees, both on and off duty is the constant care of the Home railways, and social and recreational interests are fostered by the provision
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of institutes, club rooms, libraries, sports grounds, and the like, in city and in country. At the principal locomotive and carriage and wagon shops, dining-rooms and canteens prove a great boon; while in recent times immense benefit has accrued to employees through the operation of housing schemes, under which the railways make loans at low rates of interest to enable employees to acquire their own houses. Savings banks also encourage thrift among Home railwaymen; and in co-operation with the Government, savings associations enable one and all to provide for the inevitable “rainy day.”
New Signal Box, Southern Railway Electric Lines, Brighton.
An especially interesting development has recently been recorded at Swindon, the locomotive-building centre on the Great Western Railway. In addition to the usual staff amenities, the Great Western has just provided for its Swindon employees an attractive theatre known as “The Playhouse.” Equipped with a roomy stage, a vast stock of scenery and “props,” and a comfortable auditorium, the new theatre is an outstanding attraction for Swindon railway workers. Dramatic companies have been formed among the staff, while outside artists of repute also regularly appear at this unique railway social centre.