Fruitful Effort.

On more than one occasion attention has been drawn in these messages to the fact that the welfare of the individuals employed by the Railway Department is dependent to some extent upon the success of the railways in securing business. The point has also been stressed that national welfare is closely allied to railway operations and that support given to the railways would help to reduce taxation. Both these results are indicated in the recent Budget announcement of a partial restoration of wage reductions coupled with a certain degree of relief in other directions.

In this connection it is interesting to recall that the worst railway year in recent times was 1931 when the net earnings of the Railways amounted to only £688,727. Following this, the first wage reduction was made. The net revenue for the year ended 31st March, 1934, was £1,085,558, an improvement of £396,831 upon 1931. This improvement, followed (as it has been) by the Government's decision to increase wages by five per cent., as well as to afford some amelioration in other directions, leaves good ground for the hope that railwaymen will strengthen their efforts to make the service they render increasingly attractive to the public, and for the public to give all possible support to the national transportation system which so closely affects the general financial position of the country.