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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 10 (February 1, 1928)

The Use Of Stores

page 22

The Use Of Stores.

The Annual Railway Statement is always interesting reading to me. Under the heading, “Stores,” it is noted in the recent Statement submitted to Parliament by the Rt. Hon. the Minister of Railways that, since 1925, reorganisation has been taking place and is now about completed.

I therefore think the time opportune to make several suggestions relative to the use of stores. In so doing I do not wish to cast any reflection on supplying, certifying or other officers, but I do contend there is room for considerable economy in the supply and use of stores. Take, for example, departments other than the traffic. One does not find a fitter being given half a dozen bolts when one will do, nor a carpenter 100ft. of timber when 50 will do, nor is an enginedriver, on taking his engine out for his day's run, given waste, oil, etc., ad libitum. The requirements, in each case, are known, the issue of stores for the work to be performed being no more than is adequate. With regard to officers certifying requisitions to the Storekeeper, it is hardly to be expected, under present conditions, that the latter will have time to go into the pros and cons of why a certain man having only four semaphore lamps to maintain, requisitions 1 c/s of kerosene per month. The Storekeeper should, in such a case, be in a position to know the actual requirements. The same thing is applicable to the majority of stores supplied. I claim, after 40 years' experience of the use of stores, (including a period of the responsibility for issuing same to staff on the English railways) to have a good knowledge of their use and service.

I will now enumerate at random several articles and endeavour to set forth their uses, service, etc., with suggestions regarding the same, and hints where waste might occur.

First take the question of old brushes and mops.

These, when of no further use, should be returned to the Storekeeper.

I would suggest that old mops and old brushes, in fact any old stores for which a market as “marine” could be found, be returned to Storekeeper. (Worn out stores on the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway are so returned and, as there is more scope in England than here for the sale of such worn out material, it finds ready purchasers.)

Napier Railway Football Team, 1927. Back row.—S. R. Russell, H. H. Steele, R. Nelson, A. J. Wyett, A. A. Cohen, A. H. Dunn. Second row.—H. McKinnon, E. M. Hicky, H. N.Cohen, J. R. Aitken (captain), A. L. Dick, W. L.Stewart, A. Dickinson, E. Reid. Front row.—J. Sinclair, I. H. Fearon, Tommy Hayes, J. W. Watson.

Napier Railway Football Team, 1927.
Back row.—S. R. Russell, H. H. Steele, R. Nelson, A. J. Wyett, A. A. Cohen, A. H. Dunn.
Second row.—H. McKinnon, E. M. Hicky, H. N.Cohen, J. R. Aitken (captain), A. L. Dick, W. L.Stewart, A. Dickinson, E. Reid.
Front row.—J. Sinclair, I. H. Fearon, Tommy Hayes, J. W. Watson.

With regard to mops—if of New Zealand manufacture, those in use at the present time have a galvanised socket for the insertion of the handle. These sockets are in as sound a condition when the mop is worn out as when new. As some hundreds of mops must be used and the manufacturer has to buy the sockets, there is the presumption that a market might be found for them. With regard to brushes (platform and other)—if these were returned to the stores they could, at the least, be used as firing. If in the Storekeeper's opinion the best had not been got out of the mops or the brushes, then such articles should be re-issued for further use. From personal experience I know that men have returned brushes to be renewed—brushes that were still of considerable use for cleaning purposes. “Not worn out yet” they were told, and it was surprising how much further efficient use was got out of such articles. One knows, of course, that a new broom sweeps easier than an old one, but, if a brush has not outlived its usefulness, why renew!

Kerosene.

After making a test with Linley semaphore lamps (as to their capacity and the time they will burn when filled) I find they hold one quart of kerosene and will burn night and day for a week with one filling. At the end of that time there is almost a pint of kerosene left. It would appear that at a station with two home and two distant signals (where no kerosene is page 23 required for station lighting) one tin of 41/6th gallons per four weeks would suffice. It would be quite simple to make a test for lighting purposes, as lamps are of a standard pattern. When it is known how long a lamp burns with one filling it would be easy to work out the consumption for a given period.

Waste can occur when the cisterns are emptied periodically, if the oil is not first drained off.

Palmerston North Railway Ambulance Brigade,1906. Back row.—J. Russell, R. Le Grange, W. Meyenberg, B. McKeown, J. Muirhead. Middle row.—A. Alsop, J. Grant, Dr. C. W. Peach (Hon. Surgeon), J. Stone, J. Greig. Front row.—R. Turkington, J. Fife, C. Downey, W. H. Cassey.

Palmerston North Railway Ambulance Brigade,1906.
Back row.—J. Russell, R. Le Grange, W. Meyenberg, B. McKeown, J. Muirhead.
Middle row.—A. Alsop, J. Grant, Dr. C. W. Peach (Hon. Surgeon), J. Stone, J. Greig.
Front row.—R. Turkington, J. Fife, C. Downey, W. H. Cassey.

Liquid Disinfectants.

For ordinary usage (drains, etc.) about 75 per cent. of water is required to be added to the Taw mixture. This formula is, I am afraid, not adhered to. Members are apt to use disinfectants, etc., in an undiluted state. Were these stores issued ready for use, one gallon, mixed correctly, would represent 75 or 100 gallons of mixture. It is obvious a great saving would thus be effected.

Gloy, Glixit.

These are issued in a jelly formation. To be properly mixed, about seven parts of water must be added to the raw material. These stores are received in kerosene tins. If on hand for a long time the tins turn rusty with consequent damage to their contents. Waste occurs in this direction because of improper mixing. I would suggest that gloy, etc., be issued ready for use by the quart, etc., instead of by the pound. Its sole use at stations is for labelling and bill posting—its uses in the latter case being infrequent.

Bon Ami.

The sole use of Bon Ami is for window cleaning. For an ordinary station one cake should last (with careful usage) three months. I affirm this from personal experience.

Metal Polish.

This is used for taps, knobs, and tablet machines—one tin being supplied four-weekly. Waste occurs through leaving the cap off (which causes the liquid to evaporate), also through the contents not being sufficiently shaken up. In the latter case the main part is left in a cake at the bottom of the tin.

Caustic Soda.

This being highly concentrated, very little suffices. Over usage causes metal utensils to wear, and timber to rot. Waste occurs through the injudicious use of this soda. A little will do the work of a lot.

Dusters.

Waste occurs through not being used for the purpose supplied. Instead of being washed when dirty they are discarded. One has only to reflect on how long a duster will last in a household.

The above are a few items in the use of which, after being carefully considered, I am sure a great saving could be effected. It means closer supervision of stores in use. In the end, however, it is the small things that count when large quantities are used. An English railway in an economy campaign some time ago pointed out that if each member saved one foolscap memo. per day it meant the saving of hundreds of pounds to the Company in a year.

There is no reason why a member using stores should not be as careful in their usage as if he were actually paying for them. He does so indirectly. Some two million pounds are spent on stores annually and as there are some 300 officered stations (and over that number of tablet stations) they use a good round sum of that amount in stores. At present the Department, in face of road competition, is feeling the depression and it not only rests with the staff to be “Business Getters” but economists as well. Economy and better business mean more revenue and in the end better conditions of service. I would suggest that the Traffic Inspector or some other responsible officer periodically examine stores on hand and note excess of supply to actual usage.