That we New Zealanders are a united people has never been more strongly evidenced than during the wonderful tour through this country of Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of York. While each stopping place has had its special features—the fluttering human flag at Auckland, the hakas of Rotorua, the flowers of Timaru and the cheers of Dunedin—there has been no variation in the unanimity with which the people in every part have acclaimed the coming of the King's son and his charming lady. The cumulative impression of that unity is overwhelming.

In a world confronted with so many complex problems, it is a blessing to find some leading principle, such as this, in which there is no room for differences of opinion. In fact the reaching of unity on as many as possible of the multitude of questions which concern public welfare is necessary if progress is to be as rapid as the changing conditions of the times demand.

No more striking example of the benefit of such unity can be found than in British History. England, since the days of Alfred the Great, has made only one experiment in a form of government which excluded Royalty, and historians unite in recording how spontaneous was the outburst of joy with which, following the brief Commonwealth interregnum, the restoration of the Monarchy was greeted. The advantage of this deep-seated native conviction regarding the practical utility of our Empire's mode of government has been that whereas other less fortunately situated peoples have been distracted by dissension on this point, our unity has found us fully prepared for conquest in the arts of either peace or war with such nations as challenged competition.

A like unity is developing within the ranks of the Railway service regarding the main principles of transportation. There is a steadily increasing tendency towards agreement on essentials, a “will to win” unity which is forging the railway system of this Dominion into an increasingly efficient instrument for serving the carrying needs of the people. This is being aided by the spread of knowledge in many directions. Railwaymen are reading more, discussing more, and obtaining a more intimate knowledge not merely of their immediate jobs, but also of the principles underlying the whole science of transportation to which their individual work is, in a more or less important degree, related.

With the increase of knowledge is developing an appreciation of the need for unity in the way of thinking. The variety and capacity of human thought appears to know no limits—and that is what makes life so intensely and perennially interesting. But there is a right way of approaching any problem, and among the possibilities which the future of education amongst railwaymen holds in store, is the skilled concentration on every vital question by all concerned starting from the same certain basis of sure knowledge and accepted data.

Every forward movement now made in the direction of higher education for our members is assured of their united support. Proof of appreciation regarding what has already been done and of keenness for further knowledge is met in all parts of the country and amongst all grades of the service. Libraries are being built up and literature distributed, gatherings for discussion of railway problems are frequent, officers from overseas willingly impart their specialised knowledge, and New Zealand trained men who are given opportunity to study page 3 methods overseas help to raise the general standard of efficiency. The Universities are interested in the economic side of railway operating, and such leaders of thought as Professor Murphy of Victoria University College, Wellington, and Professor Tocker of Canterbury University College, are lending their aid in placing the art of railroading in its rightful place among the professions. By such means will unity of action in the railway service become as effective as that unity of thought among the people of the Dominion which made possible the recent most stirring series of welcomes accorded to Their Royal Highnesses.

Holidays By Train.
Record Crowds and Efficient Transport.

The response of the public to the “travel-urge,” and their increasing recognition of the improved facilities the Railways offer for booking them speedily and safely for long distances during the all-too-brief vacation period, has been splendidly exemplified during the recent holidays. The result, although anticipated by us, has rather surprised some of the leading papers of the Dominion. These, however, make generous acknowledgment of the part played by the staff in coping with the exceptionally heavy passenger traffic. The Wanganui “Chronicle” for instance, writes:—

“Since the number of motor cars in the country is increasing every day, it is certainly surprising to learn that railway travelling has proved so popular. Moreover, there has of late been a good deal of talk of financial stringency, but it does not appear to have been sufficiently severe to prevent people enjoying the holidays. With the roads so full of motor cars and the trains so crowded with people it is surely evident that New Zealanders in general have made the most of their vacation.

“So far as the railways are concerned the rush of traffic must be regarded as a tribute to the Department's enterprise. The changes that have been made in the services during the past few years have evidently been welcomed by the public; the running of the railways in the interests of the public, as it has been somewhat cynically expressed, has produced results. The officers of the Department are entitled to credit on that account, and for the handling of the holiday crowds all the members of the staff deserve a word of praise. At a great many important stations, buildings and yards are inadequate. It is only by sheer hard work, patience and enthusiasm that the staff can cope with the heavy duties of holiday time, and during the past two or three weeks exceptionally fine work has been done throughout the service.”

Another pleasing note comes from Invercargill where the “Southland Times,” under the heading “Holiday Traffic—Records Smashed,” points out that no fewer than 46,409 tickets were issued in Southland between Boxing Day and the following Saturday, a figure which far exceeds last year's total.

It points out that “all trains ran to schedule,”. and after giving particulars of the local events patronised remarks:—“Special arrangements had been made by the Department to meet the needs of the public and it says much for the organisation that not one complaint was received throughout the holidays, during which no fewer than eleven sports gatherings were catered for.

“The Christmas and New Year holidays entail a great deal of extra work in all branches of the service and this year has proved no exception to the rule. However, thanks to the fine weather, the general feeling of good humour as a corollary and the complete arrangements made beforehand, everything went off smoothly and the lack of complaints, already referred to, should be a source of gratification to those responsible for this satisfactory state of affairs.