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Railway Progress in New Zealand.
General Manager's Message.

In this issue of the Magazine appears a special illustrated article descriptive of the railcar “Maahunui.” The article was written by a passenger on the car and the accuracy and inspiration of the description is a tribute alike to this talented writer's faculty of observation and to the enthusiasm which the car has induced amongst those who have travelled by it.

Amongst the public who gathered along the route traversed by the rail-car on recent trial runs, the enthusiasm and praise for this latest mode of passenger transport was as unbounded as it was spontaneous.

The interest that the people referred to have taken in the “Maahunui” was accepted by me and other members of the Department as a very great compliment to the Service, and substantiates the opinion expressed by the Minister of Railways, the Hon. Mr. Sullivan, that the railways are far from being decadent.

It is this spontaneous interest that encourages me in the belief that the future of the railcar, from the purely commercial point of view, is absolutely assured, and it is also, in my opinion, symbolical of the efficiency and virtues of the rail-car as an economical and comfortable passenger unit.

Whilst the public enthusiasm referred to was not completely surprising to me in view of the very great interest displayed in the smaller rail-car in which I have travelled many times throughout the North Island and over all the South Island lines, it was nevertheless most gratifying to actually witness the magnitude of the response by the people towards a type of passenger unit that will, I believe, most assuredly revolutionise passenger transport in this Dominion.

In a communication received from Australia from one who had received New Zealand newspapers containing descriptions and pictures of the “Maahunui,” the following comment appears: “I should say there is nothing finer in existence at the present time in the way of rail motors.” This comment, from a quite disinterested but well-informed source, confirms the impression the car has already made in New Zealand.

The effect that rail-cars will have on the passenger side of the business is not the only encouraging factor associated with their introduction. It will, it is hoped, be possible to eliminate practically all the “mixed” train services. These, although necessary under existing circumstances are, from both the passenger and goods points of view, entirely unsatisfactory.

Not only will rail-cars provide the desirable separate system of passenger services, but the separation will also assist goods services; incidentally enabling economies to be effected in the operation of both services.

General Manager.

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