“Better means of intercourse and closer community of interest are aimed at between the Public, the Administration and the Employees of the Department.”—The Minister of Railways.

“A Magazine issued by the Administration is now a feature of all progressive railway systems, as it is also of many other industrial organisations and distributing businesses. Indeed such a magazine has become indispensable here if the methods and aims of the Railway Department are to be properly appreciated by the public and staff alike. It will act as an agent for the easy circulation of valuable information; function as a common platform for the interchange of ideas and suggestions and provide a medium whereby to foster that spirit of co-operation which makes for mutual help and a sense of individual and collective responsibility among all sections of employees, without which no great undertaking such as our national railways can be operated successfully with the minimum of friction and the maximum of public advantage.”

Thus did Mr. Coates outline the latest feature in Railway innovations—“The New Zealand Railways Magazine.”—“Another of your notions?” queried his interviewer.

“Not altogether,” he replied, “Shop organs, employees' magazines, and journals issued for criculation among workers and customers are a recognised advantage in the industrial and business world to-day, and I feel assured that by combining the two purposes in this one Departmental organ the good resultant to the Railway will be almost incalculable.”

A reference to overseas departmental magazines led the Minister to remark: “We New Zealanders pride ourselves in being up-to-the-minute in most things. In this one thing, at least, we have lagged behind the Old Country and our Sister Nations of the Empire. Not only State Departments but large private companies have found the departmental magazine, or “Shop Organ,” a useful and valuable medium of communion and inter-communion between the members of various departments and between the combined departments and the Managerial staff. Differences and difficulties which under the old regime might have been allowed to drift until culminating in a serious dispute, have been tackled in the open at the first sign of friction, and by frank and sympathetic handling have been resolved and removed to the mutual advantage of all concerned. The Departmental Magazine has been a great aid also in furthering and stimulating interest in vocational education. The same valuable service can be rendered by our “Magazine.” We can, and I hope we will learn much from these others, but at the same time we hope our Magazine will strike out on lines distinctly appropriate to our special requirements, page 4 and, in self-expression, be racy of the soil to which we belong.”

Does the manner in which your previous reforms and innovations have been received and carried out encourage you to anticipate a real advance throughout the system as the result of your new enterprise?

“The higher your aim the greater will be your achievement,” quoted Mr. Coates smiling. “I am very appreciative of the backing I have received from members of all grades of the Service in carrying out the reforms referred to. While emphasising the need of efficiency and still more efficiency, let me say that my conception of efficiency is not the ‘driving’ notion which obsessed the American ‘efficiency experts’ of a decade ago, but the reasonable and reasoned idea of increased service by co-operative effort, by the adoption of more intelligent management, improved equipment, and better arrangements for the reduction of physical fatigue and nervous strain among employees; the making of the workers' tasks more interesting, thereby securing the fullest use of each human effort, rather than more effort from each human.”

Referring to the last Railway Statement, the “Railway Gazette” states: “The New Zealand Railways have given a lead to the other railways in Australasia by the creation of a special Railway Fund, entirely distinct from the Consolidated Fund of the Dominion.

In its grasp of the fundamentals of the railway problem in New Zealand, in its keen visualisation of the desirability of following the recommendations of the recent Royal Commission, and in the bold announcement of a progressive railway policy in the future, the statement fully embodies the virility of the Railway Minister, who so recently became Prime Minister of the Dominion.”

Don't you think that sympathy with the workers in their legitimate aspirations for advancement, and the conviction, on their part, that those placed over them are in earnest in their desire to deal justly, go a long way toward bringing about the condition of mind among employees that reflects itself in more willing service all round?

“Emphatically!” exclaimed the Premier. “I want not merely a contented staff, but a happy staff. I want our men to have pride in the service and show it by putting enthusiasm into their jobs. The object of the “Magazine” should be to bring more interest into Railway life; to expand its possibilities not only for personal profit, but for public appreciation; to help toward conditions that make for satisfaction in all ranks within the Department, by reciprocal and mutual service, benefiting each other by the improvement of conditions of service for all.”

Previous to your taking up the portfolio of Minister of Railways, Mr. Coates, you had no experience in the management of industrial undertakings?

The Minister set himself to answer frankly the question which, though not asked, such a statement obviously implied.

“Soon after taking over the portfolio of Railways,” said the Minister, “I came to the conclusion that many members of the Railway Service did not realise how important the success of the Department was to their own advancement. They did not understand or accept their position as co-partners in the undertaking, so I caused a circular to be sent out indicating the need for education on this point. Here is an extract from the circular:-

The successful management of the Department's business is of vital interest to every individual on its pav roll. Their own welfare and progress depend on the patronage afforded by the Public—a patronage which can be adequately secured only by supplying the best possible service at the lowest possible price ………..The road lies open for prosperity in the Department's business if all its members combine to give efficient, intelligent, hearty and courteous assistance in the prosecution of Railway activities.

Then to District Officers:-

I look to you, as head of your district, to see that the proper spirit is fostered and a successful development achieved.

Carrying out the policy therein enunciated,” continued the Minister, “the ‘Magazine’ will help to let the Staff and the Public know what the Management is about, so that all may work together intelligently for a definite object, and help to secure for Public, Administration, and Staff improved relations, linked by bonds of friendliness and mutual help.”

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“Now, have you any personal message which you wish the ‘Magazine’ to convey to the Railway Servants of all grades?” was the final question before the interview ended.

“Yes,” Mr. Coates instantly and earnestly replied, “You may say I want the members of the Railway Staff—from Chairman of the Board to the youngest member—to remember that our Railway System is a great National co-operative undertaking. The principle upon which cooperative concerns are conducted is:-

From the workers the best that their energies and their abilities can produce; from their fellow-shareholders, the best conditions of labour that the industry can bear, without the exploitation of the non-employee shareholder who is the user of their products and services.

That, I take it, is the only fair and equitable principle upon which any such or similar industry try can be run successfully, without injustice to the employee or hardship to the shareholder-customer. That is the principle under which I, as Minister, and the Board, as Managers, wish to see our National Railway functioning. My final word for the present to our Railway workers is:-

In proportion as you, its employees, exercise your abilities and energies to make the working of the Railway System efficient, and returning a service commensurate with its costs to the paying public, the easier it will be for me, or for any future Minister to remove any disturbing element and improve conditions of labour and service. And, insofar as your conduct retards, protracts, or postpones the realisation of these things you render it difficult for the Minister or the Board to initiate an improved service to the public and better conditions for you, their servants.”