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Railway Progress in New Zealand
General Manager's Message.
Public Interest in Transport.

One of the most hopeful signs for those engaged in the industry of transport at the present time is the great amount of public interest taken in each new development which promises speed, comfort, and generally improved service to patrons.

The building and performance of the “Queen Mary,” for instance, is an outstanding example of sea transport improvement which has an international interest, and the running of the Silver Jubilee streamlined train of the London and North Eastern Railway has recently created an almost equal public interest in land transport achievement.

In New Zealand the Union Steam Ship Company's new ship “Awatea” for the trans Tasman run has awakened a new idea of the narrowing strip of sea dividing Australia and New Zealand, and the Company is to be congratulated on its enterprise and successful achievement, which is a credit to all concerned. Our own “K” locomotives, improved passenger carriages, and rail-cars, have each been greeted with warm public approval and are making their contribution to the general improvement in the internal transport of the Dominion.

What might be called the “instruments of transport” are changing rapidly, and railway experience in most countries goes to show that such improvements are economically sound. Speed is an important factor in each major development, and proof is not wanting that the public are quick to appreciate this aspect of the business.

The success of the rail-car services so far provided in New Zealand is related closely to the faster transport they supply.

Meanwhile, co-ordination of transport is closely linked with the better services provided by the respective operators. Round-trip booking, including, (where desirable) rail, road, sea and air, is a well-developed practice which makes easy the way of the traveller, and the checking of luggage through to destination, including the various means of transport, is an established convenience applicable in most cases for visitors by steamer to or from New Zealand.

The close co-operation of the Railway systems in Australia and New Zealand, in producing combined timetables and in “passing on” particulars of the results of experiments and experiences of various kinds to each other, is another feature of assistance in developing the most satisfactory phases of modern transport upon their respective lines.

The public interest in these developments is certainly an inspiration to railwaymen in their efforts to provide a service which will meet the highest requirements of railway users.

General Manager.