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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 10 (March 21, 1927)

Current Comments

page 20

Current Comments

To Help Appearances.

Official caps to be worn by the Railway staff who are provided with uniforms will, in future, be wired with a spring front. The new style will improve the appearance and help to keep caps in shape thus giving a much smarter appearance to the uniformed staff.

Westfield And Otahuhu Change
Over And Double Line Extension
.

Quite an event in the change-over history of our Railways was the bringing into use of electric power interlocking and double line automatic signalling in the Westfield-Otahuhu area over a distance of 1 1/2 miles on December 6th last. These installations called for a change-over from the old mechanical signalling and interlocking to the latest system of three position colour light signalling, and the movement of all points and traps by electric points motors. This work entailed a great amount of preparation by both the Maintenance and Signal staff and, for a long period before the actual opening, a new fabric of main lines, yards, and signalling material was gradually laid down, each section dovetailing in with the others as it was put in. Throughout, the traffic was kept working with but slight delays. The Westfield yard is now equipped with a complete new power plant, including electric interlocking by the most up-to-date interlocking machines in the Dominion. Ample provision has been made for the Auckland-Westfield junction of the new deviation when that is completed. The Otahuhu yard plant is the same as for Westfield with the exception that the existing mechanical frame has been adapted for working with the new system.

With this change-over was brought about the doubling of the lines from Westfield to Otahuhu, thus providing double line working from Auckland to Otahuhu. The change proved particularly welcome and materially assisted during the Christmas rush in expediting train movements.

This work could not have been carried out so successfully had it not been for the co-operation of all concerned, including both office and outside staff.

Holiday Traffic.

Thus the New Zealand Herald, in reference to the Holiday train traffic:—

In view of the popular impression of a measure of financial stringency, the Railway authorities might have been pardoned had they failed to anticipate such an extraordinary demand as they have experienced in Auckland. Whether they were surprised, it is apparent that they succeeded admirably in catering for many thousands of people who passed in and out of the city by train.

Promotion To The Deserving.

The Western Electric Company had a contest recently for employees. The subject for discussion was, “Why Are People Promoted?” The winning answer, as printed in the September issue of the Open Shop Review, is here given:—

“People may be given executive positions of personal influence, or because of emergencies; but the true promotion comes to those who have earned it by their accomplishments. It comes to those who can handle the general problems of related work as well as the details of their own job; to those who can subordinate self when the interests of the organisation are furthered; to those who extend hearty co-operation to others in their work.

“Because they think straight and make clean-cut decisions; because they weigh other people's views with a sense of honest values; because by their personal endeavours, they encourage others to do better work; because their personality inspires confidence in them and their work—for these reasons they are promoted.

“Promotion comes if they are capable of still greater growth and advancement; if they are interested in the personal welfare of their co-workers; if they have a wholesome supply of healthy pep. For these broad-minded people with strong qualities of integrity, initiative, perseverance and leadership, promotion is not dependent upon a vacancy—an opening is made for them. Or rather, it was there all the time awaiting the right man.”