RAILWAY PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 2, 4 January 1939, Page 5

RAILWAY PROGRESS

REVIEW BY MINISTER

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, January 2

"There is much solid evidence that the year 1938 has been one of definite progress for the Railway Department," said the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D.G.Sullivan), who arrived at Auckland last evening. He indicated that there would be still greater activity in all departments of the railway service in 1939. mentioning particularly preparations for the Centennial Exhibition and the Dominion-wide celebrations.

Among the achievements of 1938 had been the increased wage scales for men in the second division and the reclassification of those in the clerical and higher grades. Staff dwellings had been renovated and modernised and new dwellings had been erected in localities where a housing shortage was evident. The electrification of the Wel-lington-Johnsonville line had been completecfc and for the first time in NewZealand a really modern suburban train had been provided.

Other notable achievements were improved ventilation in trains, the provision of a new type of passenger car, new features in lighting, decorations, and furnishings, the installation of modern electric signals and communication apparatus, the duplication of tracks, the easement of grades and' curves, and ne strengthening of bridges. Thirty-three goods and six road services had been acquired and time-tables had been adjusted so that uneconomic overlapping was eliminated.

Mr. Sullivan thanked the General Manager, Mr. G. H. Mackley, the staff, and the public for their co-operation.