Fortunately none of the feelings thus expressed by Burns on one of his doleful days need be experienced by members of the Railway Service in a survey of the past year and a forecast of the coming one. For whilst 1926 has been full of progress, 1927 is rich with promise. Let us, therefore, ruffle the pages of the year gone by and play the prophet with the coming twelve months, for, self-trust being the first secret of success and past accomplishment the surest measure of future capacity, a glance over the progress already achieved is the best prelude to the more fascinating employment of spying out the times ahead.

New ideas of service have taken shape in the minds of the staff. The Training and Correspondence School established at the start of the year already has almost two thousand students, or one-seventh of the total permanent staff, busily engaged in voluntary study intended to make them more efficient in the performance of their work. General education in railway affairs has been advanced by lectures in various parts of the Dominion, and a reference library, planned on broad lines, is in course of establishment at Head Office. Also, and as a further means for the dissemination of railway knowledge amongst the public and members of the Department, this Magazine was brought into being. In the Workshops rapid strides have been made in reorganisation, including the introduction of better methods and more modern machinery. Locomotive power, both in the unit and in the mass, has been improved by the introduction of better types, improvements to existing ones, and the withdrawal of less efficient classes. Training of apprentices during working hours has become an established practice. Stores reorganisation has been pushed on with in accordance with the best models. Although during the year the price per mile for passenger conveyance has remained unaltered, more has been given in return by way of increased attention to the comfort, safety, and convenience of train travellers. Progress in co-ordination has been recorded by group conferences amongst different branches of the service. Divisional Superintendents have harnessed in the work of each island to produce higher efficiency by the exercise of more direct authority. The year has seen a commencement in the establishment of Advisory Boards to further assist in synchronising railway operations with public requirements. The application of publicity methods to the problems of safety have secured good results.

Linking up with motors between detached sections of railway is being tried out, and a start has been made with running the first railway-owned road using buses. Thus, omitting minor details, may the progress of the year just past be summarised.

The coming year promises still further development. The Minister of Railways. Official Secretary, and Chief Engineer are soon to be here with the latest information on the railway situation in other countries. Two transport officers, are proceeding to Australia with the purpose of studying and later introducing into New Zealand new train control methods. With the bright prospect of Royalty visiting, in page 3 February, its own most British as most antipodean Dominion, the Workshops are working overtime turning out Royal Trains, and a busy time for Transport is promised in bringing the populace to the points that are included in the itinerary of the Duke and Duchess of York. The year may see some movement in the establishment of a Chair of Transportation in the University. The scope of railway education will certainly be further extended. Definite functioning of District Advisory Boards should prove very helpful in facilitating improvements in numerous directions. The Regrading Committee which has been investigating the staffing question, having for the first time assembled sufficient data to enable the accurate estimating of relative position values, will have put in its report and considerable adjustment of grades may be expected from its labours. Some of the new workshops buildings will be occupied and further reorganisation likely to prove beneficial to the whole service is contemplated.

There is thus clear evidence that 1927 promises to be replete with variety, studded with stimulating possibilities, and marked by a healthy expansion of railway activities in various directions. May it bear in its lap a due measure of prosperity for all!