RAILWAYS OF INDIA

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1928, Page 4

RAILWAYS OF INDIA

’ KXGI'XKKR PRAISES WOUKIXG CONDITIONS. ! AUCICI.AXD, .March 13. . Labour troubles are unknown in the railway services of India, according to J Mr S. Whitehurst, deputy chief mechanical engineer for India Peninsula . railways, who was a passenger Irom Sydney by the Maunganui. Mr Whitehurst is on a holiday visit to New , Zealand, but in the course of his Lour intends to carelully observe the railway system of this country. Speaking of railway conditions in India he said there were no unions, no interference with the management, and dissatisfaction among the men was almost nil. The greater proportion o! employees were natives and they were very well treated, the employers working oh the system that if they gave a fair deal they would get one in return. The old Civil Service bogey of promotion by seniority had been done away with and men were promoted purely on their merits, this method giving great satisfaction and ensuring greater efficiency. .Mr Whitehurst was given facilities for .studying the Australian railway systems, particularly the workshops, in which he is most interested. His opinion was that while the work turned out was first-class, great economies could he effected by installing much new and modern machinery. Greater attention should he paid to standardisation, for this would do much to solve the problem of railway economy by increasing output. As near ns possible I work my shops on the Ford principle and we are able to assemble an engine in an hour,'’ Mr Whitehurst stated. “J keep a schedule of particulars of every part of an engine or carriage right from the beginning, so that I have a continuous check on the progress ot the work, knowing the cost as it goes on and the time it is taking.” Some 311(1(1 men were employed in tinlocomotive section ot the .Ihansi shops, he nthlecl. while there wore over 2000 employed in the carriage and waggon shops. The whole of the Indian Railway system was now practically undo) Government control, and a Hoard had been created to manage it. In time all tlie different sections would come under tile control of tbis Hoard. Gradually the systems were being standardised and at the present time spares and duplicates would fit rolling stock working practically on any line, lie considered that in comparison with other railway systems India had every reason to be proud of its system, which was a. very vital means of communication across the great Empire.