Increased Railway Demand.

“We all know that, in the comparatively near future, more intensive production will take place in the country districts of the Dominion. So far as I have been able to judge, the demands likely to be made on the railway service for the transport of such increased output will be met amply at Wellington for many years to come.

“I should like to say also that during my informal inspection I could not fail to notice that the architects and the contractors had rendered most faithful service in this undertaking; page 15 and to Messrs. Gray, Young, Morton, and Young (the architects) and to the Fletcher Construction Co., Ltd. (the contractors), I offer my warm congratulations on a splendid achievement.

“I am aware that during the past two or three years several officers in specialised branches of the Railway Department have given of their best in an endeavour to overcome the many problems which were encountered in connection with the lay-out of the station and buildings. I am sure that Mr. Gray Young will be one of the first to agree that the valuable assistance in this direction rendered by Mr. Mackley and those of his officers so associated with him has had much to do with the success of the undertaking.

“I feel, too, that it is fitting that the station should have been completed in good time before the opening of the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition in 1940 during which year, I understand, it is almost certain that the facilities at the Wellington station will be exhaustively tested by abnormal traffic.