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General manager's Jarewell message

The Government having acceded to my request that I be permitted to retire on superannuation as from the 1st February, 1940, this is the last occasion when it will be my privilege to pen the General Manager's message for the Magazine. I consequently welcome the opportunity to say farewell officially to railwaymen and public alike through the medium of the Department's own journal.

It is exactly forty years since I commenced service with the Department as a cadet, and I can say with complete sincerity that I have enjoyed every moment of my association with the Railways. From the first I found the job one of absorbing interest. There were so many sides to it, so many people to meet and do business with, so many opportunities for initiative; and there was so much to learn before one could feel confident to deal with the many emergencies that arise in the course of a railwayman's life.

I wish to pay tribute to the men who were responsible for my early training. They taught me the value of thoroughness, diligence, and loyalty to the Department and my fellow employees. Even at that time, when the Railways were not subjected to any effective competition, the good leaders in the service recognised that courtesy towards the public and recognition of their rights, as users of the Railways, to the best service of which the Department's employees were capable, was a duty, a privilege and a trust. I have made every endeavour to honour that trust.

To the men and women in every branch of the Service who have served with me during my earlier official life, and in more recent years have served under me, I tender my grateful thanks and appreciation for the help and friendship extended towards me, without which I would have missed much happiness and whatever success I may have achieved as a member of the Service.

I feel that I am handing over to Mr. Casey a well-equipped and efficient organisation staffed by those who have made their contribution towards its success.

I believe also that the not-distant future will see further development that will enhance the prestige of the Department and improve the service to the people.

To the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Railways, and his colleagues I desire to express in this message my thanks for their ever-helpful attitude and policy in approving proposals that have meant so much for the betterment of the Service and its personnel. To my executive officers do I particularly wish to say “thank you” for their help and cooperation, and finally to the New Zealand public and the Press, without whose goodwill the job would not have been worthwhile, may I express my gratefulness.

I leave you all with deep and sincere feelings of the happiness that my work and all associated with it have brought me.

Good-Bye. The best of good wishes to you all and to the Railway organisation that must in the future, as in the past, play so important a part in the social and economic life of the community.

General Manager.