Railway Mission Abroad Satisfactory

Chronicle (Levin), 19 September 1949, Page 5

Railway Mission Abroad Satisfactory

LONDON, Sept, 16. "We have achieved what we eet oli't to do when we left New Zealand, and it has*in every way been a satisfactory mission," said the General Mnnager of Railways, Mr. F. W. Aickin, Who 1 leaves London by air On Sunday to return to New Zealand. It was announced befote Mr, Aickin left New Zealand that he was proceeding to Britain to discilss arrangements for a contract for the eleet.rificatron of the North Island Main Trunk Railway and the Auckland suburban railway system. The General Manager was proceded by a Railwav Department te'ch nical mission consisting of Mr. P. R. Angus, chief mechanical engineer,. Mr C. A. Mackersey, electrical enyineer, Mr, A. J. Ede, transportation superintendent, and Mr. J* W. Porter, signals engineer. Messrs. Porter and Ede have already returned to New Zealand to earrv oUt certain assigned tasks following unon their investigations iu Britain. Mr. Mackersey will aecompanv Mr. Aickin Wheii he leaves on Sunday, and Mr. Angus will re'turn by sea next month. Mr. Aickin Will also be acco'mpanied by Mr. O. J". Hunter, the New Zealand reprosentative of a large British constrnction and engineering fifm, British Tnsnlated Callanders Const'ructi'on Company, Which is intetested in New Zealand railway contra cts, Since h'e left New 'Zealand, Mr. Aickin has vi'sited Canada, the United States, Sweden, and ttaly, in additi on to Britain, and the m'effibers of the mehnical mi'ssion have 'also 'examined ' railway 'Olec'tfifi'Cation s'Cheme's in Cbntinental countries. Mr. Aichin said he lmd submitted an interiin report tO the Minister of Rail-wa\-a emboflying some of the results of his miSsioft, and that he waS ftot in a position to r'elease any details for publiCation. Messrs. Aickin and Mackersey will return by way of Sydney. and are duo in Auckland on September 27.