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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 13, Issue 1 (April 1, 1938.)

[section]

Mr. W. F. Barton's Tribute

Automatic signals in Wellington station yard.

Automatic signals in Wellington station yard.

Warm praise for the New Zealand railways, which taking into account the difficult physical nature of the country and other unavoidable difficulties, compared favourably with others that he had seen in different parts of the world, was given by Mr, W. F. Barton, signalling and telegraphic engineer to the New South Wales Government (states “The New Zealand Herald”).

Mr. Barton spent a week investigating signalling systems in the Dominion and travelled to Auckland by rail-car from Wellington. He has travelled in many parts of the world for his Government and is a recognised railway authority.

“Your railways are wonderfully up to date,” said Mr. Barton. “They are excellently maintained, well run, the staff shows every courtesy, and the whole system, suggests the working of an efficient and well-oiled machine.

“The New Zealand signalling systems, including telephonic communication and telephonic train control, are well up to world standard,” continued Mr. Barton. “In addition, the lines are in excellent maintenance throughout, the rolling stock good, while the locomotives appear to take exceptional loads, which testifies to their high class and servicing.”

The Auckland and Wellington stations compared very favourably with the best abroad, commented Mr. Barton, and the large sums invested in these buildings had been very well spent. They would be distinct assets to the country for many years to come. Mr. Barton was particularly enthusiastic in referring to the children's quarters on the roof of the Wellington station. The service in caring for the children, including cheap meals and sleeping accommodation, was an excellent and pleasing innovation. There was only one such service in Australia —in Melbourne.

“A wonderful spirit existing among the staff impressed me greatly,” Mr. Barton continued. “This appears to be largely due to the methods employed by the General Manager, Mr. G. H. Mackley. He seems to be universally popular and undoubtedly has the happy knack of treating men as men.”

The only criticism that Mr. Barton offered was that there were far too many level crossings, the danger of which appeared to be unnecessarily increased by the lack of care and consideration by motorists.

“There seems to be plenty of money being spent on railways in New Zealand,” said Mr. Barton in conclusion, “but it is being spent wisely. I am a great believer in constant expenditure on railways, especially in such a country as this, where a first-class service is a great necessity.”