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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 15, Issue 3 (June 1, 1940)

General Manager's Message — The Railways and the War Effort

page 8

General Manager's Message
The Railways and the War Effort

Up to the time of writing this message, over a thousand members of the Railway Department have joined the military forces for service overseas.

Recent developments emphasize the gravity of the international situation and impress upon all citizens the necessity for further efforts, whether with the military forces or in serving their country on the home front. As one who has had long association with the personnel of all branches of the Railway Department, and who holds a deep and abiding pride in his association with the Service as a whole, I make a confident appeal to all members to give a maximum of effort and efficiency in the nation's cause at the present time.

I make a further appeal on behalf of New Zealand's soldiers who are fighting our battle overseas. It is our duty to help in providing for the welfare and comfort of our comrades, particularly the sick and wounded. With this object in view, I suggest the establishment of a Railway Patriotic Fund to assist the National and Provincial funds already approved by the Government.

A similar fund has already been sucessfully established in other Government Services and I feel that railwaymen whose patriotism, loyalty and charitable instincts are second to those of no other section of the community, will not wish to lag behind in such a worthy and humanitarian movement.

Whilst realising that the question of making small and regular contributions to such a fund is a matter for the conscience and circumstances of the individual member, I propose calling a meeting of officials of the four service organisations to discuss details of the suggested fund in order that members of the Service generally may be assured that the moneys contributed by them will be controlled by their own representatives. The decisions and recommendations of this meeting will be forwarded to all members at an early date.

Knowing the spirit of the men and women employed in the Railway Department I feel confident of that unanimous support which will ensure the Railway Patriotic Fund being worthy of the Railway Service.

General Manager.