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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 6 (October 1, 1928)

Accountant's Branch Reunion — When Figures Lose Their Rigidity and Statistics Unbend

page 56

Accountant's Branch Reunion
When Figures Lose Their Rigidity and Statistics Unbend

A most successful reunion of present and past members of the Accountant's Branch was held recently. The function took the form of a smoke concert, and was rich in good fellowship, indicative of the fine spirit of the Branch.

Additional interest was given to the occasion by the presence of the General Manager, Mr. H. H. Sterling, who showed the keenest interest in the proceedings throughout the evening.

In proposing the toast of the General Manager, the Chief Accountant, Mr. H. Valentine, said that the year just past had been an eventful one for their Branch. There had been a regrading of staff, and the Branch had been given a new title and additional responsibilities. The internal reorganisation had included the establishment of two sub-branches, and special designations had been given to officers responsible for certain duties. He thought the organisation was now better and stronger than ever.

During the past ten years the Branch had been built up until now in its financial, costing, and statistical methods it could compare favourably with any railway in the world and also with any other business in New Zealand. They had reason to be proud of the progress made, and could hold up their heads in company. A staff of specialists had been built up and the whole system had been revolutionised.

“Delivering the Goods.”

They would find plenty to do in future in “delivering the goods” to the General Manager. He believed the Department required qualified men in every branch of the service. Transport men should want to become members of the Institute of Transport; those in the Accountancy Branch should aim to become members of the Society of Accountants, and so on with other branches of the service—in order that the whole organisation might be “up sides” with any other institution in New Zealand. He did not claim that they could be 100 per cent. efficient—any-one who did claim that was too good for this world—he should be superannuated. (Laughter.) But he would remind them that the General Manager was too shrewd to be taken in by any but the best standards of service, although he would be the first to recognise efficiency when he saw it.

Mr. Valentine went on to remark that their members had taken a leading part in many phases of public life and sport, and he particularly mentioned the pride they had in the success of Mark Nicholls, a member of their staff, who, in the last test match had secured ten points off his own boot and undoubtedly enabled the All Blacks to finish “all square” with the South Africans.

Salvation in Personal Leadership.

The railways had to meet a most difficult position in New Zealand. It had always been difficult, owing to the physical lay out of the Dominion. This has made sea competition easily available in certain parts, and had made short hauls over heavy grades—due to the land configuration—an important feature in transportation. “But,” continued Mr. Valentine, “the Prime Minister had now called to the control of the Department the outstanding man in New Zealand—outstanding by natural ability, by education, and by experience—Mr. H. H. Sterling.” (Continued applause.) “What the Railways need he will give them, namely, personal leadership, the qualities of which he possesses in an outstanding degree. In turn every officer in the Department holding a controlling position should possess leadership qualifications—there should not be too much referring to Wellington.”

Mr. Valentine went on to say that he believed Mr. Sterling would give the utmost freedom to officers under him in carrying out the general policy of the Department, and he assured him of the best assistance that the Accountancy Branch could give. (Applause.).

(Mr. Sterling's reply is reported on pp. 1415.)

Other toasts honoured were “Superannuated Members,” proposed by Mr. Sterling and responded to in a thoughtful and appreciative speech by Mr. Lowe (of “N.Z. Dairyman”), and with much humour by Mr. Curtis; “The Chief Accountant's Branch,” proposed by Mr. G. T. Wilson and responded to by Messrs. Bishop and Dolan; and “The Visitors,” proposed by Mr. J. Dayman and responded to by several of the guests. Community singing and several excellent concert items contributed to the evening's enjoyment.

page 57

The Name's the Thing

In compliance with the expressed wish of interested local bodies and the Whakatane Chamber of Commerce, the Railway Department recently decided to change the name of Kiwinui Station (on the Tauranga-Taneatua extension), to “Whakatane West.”

A correspondent in the “Whakatane Press” celebrates the occasion in the following terms:-

“Whakatane West.”

The railway's an undoubted boon,
Though the station's at a distance,
And the road thereto is somewhat new
And the gravel's no asistance
To country folk, who steer their cars
Within the whitened gates,
To wait until a belching train
Arrives with varied freights;
Perhaps a truck of scented sheep
Yoked to a van of cheese;
A sprinkling of our Maori friends,
And dogs that harbour fleas.
But let us sing “Long Live the King”
And Manager of Rails—
He proved himself of “Sterling” worth
And listened to our tales.
We only made a protest mild
About our station's name,
For Kiwinui was a term
That might refer to “game.”
Henceforth let all remember this:
We, by the railway blest,
Must practise day and night to say,
“It's Whakatane West!”
A simple thing it is to be
By this idea obsess'd,
For Mr. Kipling has observed
That West is ever West.
And East and West will never meet
By any line extension;
So let us all be truly glad
At Railway condescension.

Flowers By Rail

After travelling 800 miles, a box of flowers was recently delivered to an Ashburton address a few minutes after the arrival of the express, and the contents opened up as fresh as when they were put in the closed box so far away (says the Ashburton “Guardian”). The box, which was despatched from a township north of Whangarei, was not even dented.