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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 6, Issue 7 (February 1, 1932.)

One of the Largest Industries in the Dominion

One of the Largest Industries in the Dominion.

It may be taken as a truism, that no industry of any consequence can be carried on without supplies appropriate to its character. An industry of the magnitude and importance of the Working Railways of New Zealand, requires an astonishing variety of stores and materials.

The volume and annual value of such stores and materials (including stationery) are of such dimensions that a properly organised and specially trained branch of the Department is necessary to handle the purchase, receipt, custody and issue of them, and to account correctly for them. The Stores branch exists for this purpose. It is essentially a department of service and its prime function is to supply stores and materials when and where required for railway purposes. The activities and necessities of working railways bring the Stores branch into contact with practically every other industry that produces, manufactures or distributes in New Zealand and with merchants and manufacturing firms throughout the British Empire, as well as in foreign countries. Its purchases and turnover probably exceed that of any other organization or business in New Zealand. Therefore it is of the greatest importance that everything it does should be on sound and correct lines and, furthermore, as it forms part of an important Department of State it is equally necessary that its commercial probity should be of the highest standard to retain the confidence, not only of those to whom it is immediately responsible, but of everyone with whom is has business contact.

Stores Branch Activities.

In surveying the activities of a railway stores branch it would seem that one of the most desirable attributes it can possess is the ability to anticipate successfully the future requirements of the Department, thus enabling it to keep its stocks on hand at proper levels in proportion to the actual needs of the service. The Stores branch works in close contact with every other branch of the Railway service, the material needs of which are its particular care. The organization of the branch covers the whole of the Railway system. Its main stores or warehouses are situated in the four main centres, but it controls or supervises storage depots and “Trust” stores throughout the various districts in both the North and South Islands. In addition, it controls the operations of the railway sawmills and bush areas and has page break
Comptroller of Stores Office, Wellington. (Rly. Publicity Photos.) (1) Mr. E. J. Guiness, Comptroller of Stores; (2) Mr. S. S. Millington, Act. Asst. Comptroller of Stores; (3) Comptroller of Stores, Gerneral Office; (4) Mr. P. M. Muir, Chief Clerk, Stores branch; (5) Comptrollex of Stores Record and Correspondence Section; (6) Typistes' Section.

Comptroller of Stores Office, Wellington.
(Rly. Publicity Photos.)
(1) Mr. E. J. Guiness, Comptroller of Stores; (2) Mr. S. S. Millington, Act. Asst. Comptroller of Stores; (3) Comptroller of Stores, Gerneral Office; (4) Mr. P. M. Muir, Chief Clerk, Stores branch; (5) Comptrollex of Stores Record and Correspondence Section; (6) Typistes' Section.

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The District Store at Woburn, Lower Hutt. (1) Mr. J. S. Stewart, District Storekeeper, Woburn; (2) District Storekeepers's General Office; (3) Section of Woburn Stores containing material manufactured in the workshops; (4) Bay of Stationery Store, Woburn; (5) Bay of General Store, Woburn.

The District Store at Woburn, Lower Hutt.
(1) Mr. J. S. Stewart, District Storekeeper, Woburn; (2) District Storekeepers's General Office; (3) Section of Woburn Stores containing material manufactured in the workshops; (4) Bay of Stationery Store, Woburn; (5) Bay of General Store, Woburn.

page 20 charge of the railway lorries engaged in the cartage of imported and other railway materials, through-booked goods, checked luggage, parcels, etc., within the city of Wellington.

The whole of the Stores branch is under the immediate direction of the Comptroller of Stores, whose headquarters are in Wellington. In each of the main centres there is a District Railway Storekeeper, whose respective headquarters are at Otahuhu (Auckland), Woburn (Wellington), Addington (Christchurch) and Hillside (Dunedin). At the smaller centres such as Invercargill, Greymouth, Westport and East Town (Wanganui), there are stores offices and warehouses in immediate charge of stores officers who are responsible either to the nearest District Storekeeper or directly to the Comptroller of Stores. For the better organization of the branch and for purposes of convenience, expedition and economy of working, the railway system has been divided up into stores districts or areas under the immediate supervision of the respective District Storekeepers, but all controlled and brought into uniformity and harmony of method and working by the central control in Wellington.