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Helping the Business Man.
Timely Information Brings Wonderful Results.
A Goods Agent's Haul.

Telling evidence of the power of personal interest in the transport problems of business houses is furnished in the following report forwarded by the Goods Agent at Wellington.

The report is here reproduced in full as an example of what can be done to help business people in the disposal of their freight and to secure their good-will by efficient service. The whole episode is typical of the kind of cooperation between Department and public which has of late years assisted to bring about the great expansion of our goods traffic.

I forward herewith (writes Mr. E. J. Lezard) a letter of appreciation received from Messrs. Nimmo and Sons, relative to a large consignment of pianos, player pianos, gramophones and records, railed from Wellington to New Plymouth.

Messrs. Nimmo enquired whether we could quote them a cut rate for the whole consignment if forwarded by rail, as they understood freight charges would be much less by sea, and it was their intention to forward by steamer.

I made a personal visit to the firm, ascertained the measurement of the goods, and by a careful estimate of the weight, was able to point out that even at our class “A” rate the firm would save approximately £15 by having goods carried by weight on rail as compared with water carriage which is based on measurement. Our rapid transport system and better handling was also featured, with the result the business was immediately secured.

Advantage was taken of the opportunity to emphasise the fact that the same excellent facilities are available at all times for all classes of business, and with the additional assurance that our staff was anxious to assist the business community, the whole of this firm's business has since been forwarded by rail to New Plymouth and other stations, including Palmerston North.

When speaking to Mr. R. H. Nimmo subsequently, he stated as his opinion that the Department was too modest in advertising its facilities, and that loss of business and the failure to gain new business could be largely attributed to lack of knowledge on the part of traders of the excellent service at their disposal. Mr. Nimmo urged that propaganda work would be advantageous to the Department and appreciated by the various firms and public generally, adding that if the Department cared to make use of his letter for this purpose, by publishing it in the monthly magazine, also bringing it under the notice of the Honourable the Minister of Railways, he would feel very pleased.

The communication from Messrs. Nimmo and Sons reads as follows:— Our firm recently opened a branch of its business in New Plymouth, and the initial stock sent from Wellington by railway included two truck loads of pianos and player pianos, and one truck load of gramophones and gramophone records. The handling of these goods required the utmost care, because the mechanism of a player piano is easily affected adversely and gramophone records are very fragile, and it says much for your Department when we are able to report that all our goods arrived at their destination without a breakage, scratch, or any other evidence of transport handling. That is all the more commendable, when the fact that our goods require special care is taken into consideration. We desire to assure you of our sincere appreciation of the careful transport of our goods, which care has also been manifest in subsequent business. Furthermore, it has been most gratifying to experience the willing co-operation of the members of the staff of your Department, and their keen desire to meet us in all matters is indeed laudable. Every member has been ever ready to help to facilitate and expedite all transport, and the co-operation and advice of your good self do we especially appreciate. We thank you for your continual willingness to assist us to the best of your ability, and for the fact that you have been ever ready to place your services at our disposal. We have recognised and have been much impressed with the grasp which you have on the problems confronting merchants in relation to these days of modern transport, and consider that the Railway Department should leave no stone unturned in the endeavour to advise the business community that such officials as yourself are available to advise and co-operate in matters affecting finance and transport.