Economy.

Owing to the need for special measures to be taken in connection with the general financial situation of New Zealand, the present is a time when economy by members of the Railway service in small things as well as in great, must be exercised for the general good. On previous occasions I have stressed the importance of this aspect of our work, but it is a subject which deserves reiteration because of the vital issues dependent upon it. In the matter of ordering work and material and in the general use of stores and supplies, there is a point beyond which a checking or supervisory system can only go at a cost which is greater than any possible savings which such a system can effect. Consequently, there is always a margin between check (or supervision) and actual expenditure which is high or low according to the spirit in which the employee regards his stewardship, or, in other words, the moral attitude of each individual member of the staff towards his job. Times like the present should help to bring home to all the seriousness of wastefulness of any kind and the necessity for adopting economy measures in every phase of their work. Waste and wages come from the same fund, which in the last analysis, is determined not by us, but by the purchaser of our product (transport) when he decides what he is willing to pay for it.

I, therefore, make a general appeal to members to give constant attention to the subject of economy so that they may be ready to seize every opportunity that comes their way for effecting savings in Departmental expenditure. I am fully conscious of the fact that few men will deliberately commit waste. The appeal I am particularly making is against apathy as regards economy. I would wish every member to be active in the prevention of waste. There is no cure for waste—what is once wasted cannot be got back, whether it be material, time or effort. To get positive results we must prevent waste.

I take this opportunity of stating that much useful information of service to the Railways has already been transmitted to me as a result of previous messages sent out through the Magazine, and I shall be pleased to receive, and, indeed, anticipate an equal response to the present request.