Out to Give Service.

Mr. F. Pawson, the Railway Department's Business Agent, tendered an apology for the absence of Mr. Penn, District Traffic Manager, and expressed pleasure at the opportunity of being present at such a fine gathering. It was a real pleasure to find the farmers and residents of a district generally taking a very live interest in the railways, which, after all, were the property page 31 of the people. All present were well aware of the great changes that had taken place in recent years, and of what the Railway Department, in common with other interests, had had to face.

Wonderful changes had been wrought in the last four or five years. Large numbers of letters had been received expressing appreciation of the changes brought about. He had never worked with a better lot of men in his life. What they had been greatly in need of were opportunities, which they had not had previously. They were now given those opportunities, and to-day the railwaymen were out to do their very best for the users of the railways. They had a fine example of this in the present stationmaster at Dunsandel, who was out to give the very best of service. It was evident that the people of Dunsandel were very appreciative of the efforts of Mr. Breach and his staff when they arranged such a fine function as was being held that evening. It was a most unusual thing to find the people of any district meeting to celebrate anything the Railway Department had done for them. He only wished he could get the residents of other districts to show the same enthusiasm and interest in the railways.

Referring to Mr. H. H. Sterling, the new General Manager, Mr. Pawson said that he was a young, vigorous, progressive man with new ideas. He firmly believed that under Mr. Sterling's able direction the railways would enter upon a new lease of life, and that the public would get the service it was entitled to expect. After giving some figures relating to the business handled at Dunsandel, Mr. Pawson said he hoped the interest the people were taking in the railways would long continue.

At this stage an adjournment was made to the Railway Station, where Miss Pawson, daughter of the Business Agent, formally turned on the current, flooding the station and yards with light. “Auld Lang Syne” having been sung, the people went back to the hall, where the ladies of the district served supper and a dance followed.

On a recent Saturday a picnic party spent the day in the Hutt Valley (says the “Dominion”). One of the party, a lady, left her purse and a book in the train. She was just thinking of going over to the station to make enquiries when a railway official arrived on the picnic ground with the missing articles. Such efficiency as was shown by the official must go a long way in answering the adverse criticism to which the Department is from time to time subjected.

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