The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 6, Issue 3 (August 1, 1931)

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The above is the title of a two-colour folder (with striking cover design) now being sent out by the General Manager to all members of the New Zealand Railway service.

Those homely proverbs “Waste not, want not” and “Wilful waste makes woeful want,” demand everybody's best attention in these days of stress. Stoppage of waste makes for security of employment and family welfare.

Waste is always a hindrance to individual and national welfare, but under present conditions it is a deadly enemy against which the most determined war must be waged. Waste does no one any good and gives no worthy person any pleasure. Stopping waste has the same effect as getting more business, and it has the advantage that it costs nothing except thought and care, and can be practised successfully at times when new business is hard to get and possibly expensive to handle.

In this personal message to each member of the railway staff I desire to enlist the interest and help of each individual among our 17,500 members in a campaign for the elimination of waste and for studied economy in the use of all kinds of stores and supplies. It should be obvious to all that the instinct of self-preservation must command their active support of this principle.

Launched, as we are, on a much more real business basis than ever before, self-interest and self-help are very definitely involved for all in a drive for waste-elimination within the Department. More than ever before will we be judged by results, and as Departmental earnings have to pay for the cost of materials and supplies wasted as well as the cost of materials and supplies used, before salaries or wages can be met or properly apportioned, the ultimate effect of waste in all its forms on rates of remuneration for personal services is a very vital factor.

An active attitude against waste gives the pleasant sense of work well done. This constant carefulness, day by day, increases individual efficiency. The multiplication of these personal efficiencies assures the future of the railways.

General Manager.

Head Office,

Railways,

Wellington,

15th July, 1931.

If the cost of careless waste in an individual case automatically reduced wages by the amount wasted, this truth would become impressively clear.

When you think of waste, think in terms of the multiplication table. An average waste of only a penny a day for each employee of the Railways would amount to £22,000 a year.