The breaking down of barriers between nations through the ever-increasing ease with which travel on and over the earth's surface is accomplished, has had a beneficial effect upon the individuals composing them. It has widened their understanding and increased their toleration. Similarly, the diffusion of education within each nation has made social life and intercourse easier. It now has its field of action rather on a gradual inclined plane than on a series of steep steps.

In the industrial world the application of scientific research to the principles of employment has shewn the need for changes in methods of management conformable with the ameliorating process going on in social life. Psychological studies have shewn how helpful a cheerful frame of mind is to successful operation, and much thought has been devoted to devising means where-by those engaged in industry may be kept happy in their employment.

Warmth, light, and orderliness, rest periods and pleasant surroundings all aid towards removing the irksomeness of the ancient curse of Adam.

Although the Railways of this country have not a special “Sociological Department,” such as is found in some ambitious industrial companies, there is no feature of modern sociological welfare work which has not received attention here. Our new workshops have devices for removing dust and gases; they have shower-baths and fire-brigades, luncheon rooms and catering, apprentice classes and first-aid outfits, libraries, and homes for employees. The present railway sick benefit fund carries a most generous subsidy to assist those suffering from sickness or injury. All this is practical sociological work, and is in line with what current social ideas hold to be good for society in general. It supplies the framework within which opportunity is provided for healthful expansion.

But the introduction of the social element supplies probably the greatest help in making the day's work go with a swing. In a widespread organisation such as the Railways this is particularly the case. There are many places in New Zealand where small communities are composed almost entirely of railway folk. They have to make their own amusements—and some of them do it very well. The Department has done a great deal in the way of supplying social halls in many parts of the system to encourage the social side of life amongst its employees. In the larger centres, as at the principal workshops, well laid out grounds have been provided, with ample facilities for sports, and lawns and gardens help to make the page 6 surroundings pleasing to the eye and restful to the nerves. All this tends to develop a feeling of friendship amongst those engaged in the same industry, a feeling which carries over into the hours of work and leads towards that teamwork from which the best results are obtained. Such friendships help to cushion the blows of unrelenting nature, brighten the general outlook on life with the warm glow of goodwill, and lead towards that physical well-being in which lies the power of resistance to the stresses and strains of modern life.

A Fine Text

Speaking at the Railway Officers’ Institute reunion in Auckland, Mr. H. H. Sterling, General Manager of Railways, complimented the Institute on their breadth of outlook. He said that the words on the toast list concerning the Institute made one of the finest texts he knew of: “The Institute still maintains that dignity of outlook and responsibility which has characterised it from its inception; it recognises that the success of its membership is coincident with the progress of the railway service of New Zealand.

“I feel that if members of the Institute live up to that text, I, as General Manager, have a comparatively easy task before me,” Mr. Sterling said. “The Department then would give a measure of transport service satisfactory to the people owning the Railways and to do the management. I am glad to know that I have your confidence, and as far as I am able to come in contact with members of the staff they have all of mine.”

Retirement of Mr. I. Cameron

Mr. John Cameron, District Traffic Manager of Railways for the Wellington district retired last week on superannuation after completing 40 years in the service of the Department.

Mr Cameron joined the Railway service in 1889, and, after filling, with distinction, many important positions (including those of Assistant Traffic Manager at Auckland, and District Traffic Manager for the Ohakune Section), he was appointed to the high position which he recently vacated.

This country has been fortunate in the calibre of its chief departmental officers and Mr. Cameron may be added to the list of those men who, by their outstanding ability and unselfish devotion to duty, have written their names indelibly in the records of the various State Departments.

The position of District Traffic Manager in a centre such as Wellington is one of great responsibility which is ever increasing because of the revolution taking place in the transport world and the organising difficulties associated therewith.

Mr. Cameron gave much time and thought to the changing transport conditions of the times, and he was most successful in retaining and fostering new business for the Railways.

He was recognised throughout the Railway service as being right in the front as a transport officer, his technical knowledge and capacity in attention to detail being of quite an exceptional nature, whilst his relations with his large staff as well as with the public were always most cordial.

In the retirement of Mr. Cameron the Railway Department loses the services of one of its most efficient officers and his severance from the service will be keenly felt alike by the staff and by those members of the public with whom he came in contact.

An Outside Opinion

A recent visitor to New Zealand was Mr. F. L. Castle, General Manager of an English railway signal company, who spent a month touring the North and South Islands. Mr. Castle has an intimate knowledge of the railway systems in the principal countries throughout the world and his opinion of our system is therefore of more than usual interest.

“New Zealand is exceedingly well advanced in electric signalling, and has little to learn from the signalling devices of other countries,” said Mr. Castle. Generally, he considered the railways were well run and the comfort and facilities offered compared more than favourably with those of other countries where railways of similar gauge were in operation. Considering the curves which were necessary to negotiate and the gradients in New Zealand, he was impressed with the degree of comfort offered.

“People have a habit of criticising their railways instead of setting out to help them,” said Mr. Castle. “The man in the street should not ‘grouse’ that the Department does not pay, but set himself out to do something for the good of the railways and the country. If he sends his goods by road the railways cannot pay. They belong to the country, and the profits are not distributed to shareholders in the form of dividends as they are in England and in many other countries, but are for the benefit of the country as a whole.”