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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 13, Issue 2 (May 2, 1938.)

An Ideal of Industry

An Ideal of Industry.

The great spread of railway workshops by Woburn has not the depressing features of old-time factories with their grim prison-like architecture and ever-smoking chimneys. Electricity is the clean magic servant of man in those well-lighted, well-ventilated buildings where about two thousand men—in different shifts—are busy in various occupations.

The glow of flowers at the main entrance makes no ironical clash with the industrial scheme of things. Indeed the gardens are an appropriate foreground for a model working place, where the right of man to healthy conditions in his toil is fully recognised. At Woburn men can be happy in their work, happy in their play, happy in their homes.

Those big workshops look like strong insurers and protectors of the community's welfare. They are like a benevolent giant trailing gently a host of homes.

The shops have various pleasant surprises for a visitor apart from the marvellous machinery and the well-planned operations. There is a social hall which can seat 200 folk, and a dining-room where 500 can be served comfortably.

There is smooth organisation for all manner of sports and social entertainment. Occasionally the large dining-room is used for dances. Life goes with a bright swing in and about Woburn.