In a trenchant speech delivered at Pukerua Bay, the Prime Minister, when referring to his Department of Railways, said that he wanted the whole staff to “get the big idea.” This was essential before real progress could be made.

Such a movement to be successful should begin at the beginning. It was, therefore, with pleasure that we listened recently to one of the standard lectures prepared by Mr. M. L. Bracefield (Officer-in-Charge) and delivered, to new cadets, by Mr. E. Hayton of the Railway Central Training and Correspondence School; for it showed that a genuine attempt to put “The big idea” across, is being made in the Department's newly established training school for traffic beginners. Mr. Hayton said:—

You have but newly joined the Railway Department, and have to look ahead to forty years in the Service.

To succeed you must love your work, live it, walk it, talk it, have all your thoughts centred in it. Thereby you will make good. This is your great opportunity, and high aims are necessary to take full advantage of it. In starting off you should dream of future success, and, by will and perseverance make your dreams come true.

Put life and ginger into the tuition received here. Aim at perfection by close attention to detail, and remember that close attention to detail is what makes work interesting. Form the habit now and it will help you throughout your career. Even in routine work—such as invoicing—try to improve, to gain speed, to become expert, to go faster and get more done. Don't think any job a small one. Think of your job as big, and keep at it diligently.

The homework you get here gives opportunity for initiative. You have to think for yourselves. Appreciate the chance accordingly and you will find the main pleasure of life, that of self-development, lies at the back of these problems.

Try to improve your English; study the dictionary; read good authors; practice writing and spelling. Be assured that the further you go the wider will the field become, and the more certain will it appear that enjoyment of the work in hand is necessary for improvement and efficiency.

While the above is being delivered, there is another class across the room being lectured on tariff matters, and a group of boys near at hand are practising telegraphy. We note that some of these have drifted nearer and are listening hard, caught in the snare of the speaker's earnest oratory, as he continues:—

Brains and perseverance take you all the way. There are variations in mental capacity. But it is worth remembering that any brain-power handicap can be made up by “sticking to it.”

Don't miss any business-getting opportunities. We are instructing you carefully in the tariff. Well, a definite knowledge of the rates helps to secure traffic by giving that assurance to customers which accuracy alone can yield. If you hear any inquiry regarding Railway matters, do not hesitate to go right up and offer information. If you show courtesy and politeness your help will be appreciated, and your keenness will do credit both to yourselves and the Department. Remember in your dealings with the Public to give equal treatment to all. Personality is the thing that counts, that gets you along, that opens the road before you, and a strong personality is only developed by controlled behaviour. Remember that self-control gives power, and can accomplish all. Therefore cut out the “can'ts,” and make the song of the Loco—and all it means—your favourite melody.

Here a medley of sound, the bang of a typewriter and of several telegraph instruments, commingled with voices from the class across the room, impinges on the senses as Mr. Hayton takes breath in the straight for his final run home. Hear him:—

Punctuality is a necessity for the proper performance of business, and no one can be considered reliable who fails to observe this virtue. Then loyalty to the Department and to your fellow-officers is the mark of a gentleman and must be maintained inviolate. With it is associated trustworthiness—an essential to honesty of character.

In the matter of deportment, a respectful attitude is desirable. You should not be afraid to use the word “Sir.” There is no servility in it. To use it towards a senior is to treat him with proper respect. The public like it. If you practice using the term its use becomes automatic and gives constant pleasure. Then you should all study cleanliness, tidiness and attention to your personal habits, in order that you may improve them and eliminate all things from your way of life which might impede self-development and progress. Thus will your self-respect be increased and your personal value augmented.

The attention of the whole staff is drawn to the work being carried on from this, the Department's Training and Correspondence School. Here is your chance for a systematic education in the science of transportation. Come along and enrol as a student. Take the earliest opportunity of engaging in the study of your job. See the whole course ahead of you. Make your own chances. Get “the big idea.”

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Several of the large manufacturers of permanent way equipment in Britain were visited and the latest developments fully discussed.

A matter brought forcibly home to many railways by competition is the cost of track maintenance on light traffic, non-productive lines. Considerable saving has been achieved in some cases by lengthening out the gang-lengths and providing a motor trolley for the gang. Investigations are being made with a view to adopting some such method on our own light traffic lines. The use of motor trolleys for line gangs is fairly general in America, but is quite unsuitable for the greater part of our system owing to sharp curves and deep cuttings. None of the labour saving devices inquired into seemed to be suited to our conditions. They generally require considerable space at the side of the track and are only economical on a big face of work.