Worthy of Dominion.

“When the Government decided to extend the co-ordination of railway and road services, it was felt that the job could be done in a manner worthy of the Dominion. The purpose was to en page 13 sure to the public, as far as possible, the benefits of any expenditure undertaken in connection with this work, and also to reduce the cost to the people as a whole through the avoidance of uneconomic duplication of transport services.

“In other words,” the speaker continued, “the intention was to provide the best possible transport by rail and road for the general public, having regard to the varying economic factors associated with each of the districts concerned.

“How far we have succeeded in this effort those who have occasion to use the services provided by the Railways Department, whether by road or rail, are in the best position to judge,” he added. “And as Minister I may say that for one complaint that reaches me there are a hundred communications couched in the most complimentary terms.

“Typical of these is a letter now to hand received by the General Manager, Mr. Mackley, from an overseas' railway engineer, following his recent visit to the Dominion. The writer states: ‘The chief mechanical engineering department's officials here were tremendously interested in the rolling stock, and were amazed at your engines, while, as for the electric trains and Diesel coaches—they couldn't admire them enough.’ He goes on: This is not flattery, Mr. Mackley, but the honest description of the comments passed; and everyone here who knows anything of rolling stock and coach building is astounded to learn that you made them in your own workshops.'”

The function concluded with the singing of the National Anthem, the guests then adjourning upstairs to afternoon tea.