How the Railways met the Challenge.

Faced with such a position, the formation of a body of specialists to watch the interests of the Government Railways was a natural step, and in 1925 the Commercial Branch, comprising a Commercial Manager and a Business Agent (allotted to each section of the lines) was formed. The object of these officers is to maintain a liaison between the public and the Department, to ascertain the requirements of the communities, to place the facilities and conveniences of the Department before those desiring transport, and to keep closely in touch with farmers, traders, manufacturers, all local bodies and others with a view to affording them assistance in their dealings with the railways.

These members are experts in their business and their specialised knowledge of all branches of transport renders them invaluable to those requiring information.

These agents do not wait for the public to come to them, but maintain close contact with both actual and potential customers, and the non-static character of public requirements in the matter of conveyance renders the life of the Railway Business Agent an extremely busy and varied one.

The agent must be a man capable of making a rapid summation of the whole position when confronted with a problem, and able to place all essential facts before the management, so that a prompt decision may be given when required; the goods are, in many instances, ready to be despatched, and the keenest man secures the business.

The aspects of passenger and goods transport vary in many ways. In the case of the passenger, increased business can be induced by providing sufficient attractions, either in low fares or in added refinements in the accommodation provided. In this way bulk conveyance can often be secured and business induced at times and in localities where the rolling stock might otherwise be standing idle or, at any rate, not fully employed.

With goods business, the position is somewhat different, and increased traffic can, as a rule, be secured only by diversion from other means of hauling; and it is in dealing with the varying conditions of such that the knowledge of the Business Agent—a knowledge bred of long experience—safeguards the interests of the largest business organisation of the Dominion—The National Railways.

The co-ordination by the Department of rail, sea and road transport has brought about such a well-integrated service that the railway officer is in a position to provide the public with any means of transportation for which there is a real demand, and which can be rendered at a sound economic charge, whether by train, bus, ship, lorry, or service car.