Retirement of …
Railways Publicity Manager And Editor Of The “Railways Magazine”
Forty-two Years of Varied Service

Mr. G. G. Stewart

—Photo., S. P. Andrew & Sons
Mr. G. G. Stewart

Mr. G. G. Stewart, Manager of the Publicity Branch of the Railways Department and Editor of the “Railway; Magazine,” has retired on superannuation after 42 years of varied service.

He came as a young lad from Scotland with his parents who settled at Nelson. There he received a sound primary and secondary education which gave him good qualifications for a railway cadetship at Westport in 1898.

He served in various districts, including Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, and Nelson. In 1915 he was transferred to the Auckland district, and served at Mercer, and was stationmaster at Thames. He then went to Auckland, where, until 1924, he was in the District Traffic Manager's Office. He was then appointed a commercial agent, with headquarters at Wellington, and after service in that branch was in the Transport Department. From this position, because of his wide general railway knowledge and his literary versatility, he was appointed Editor of the “Railways Magazine” in 1925, and was made officer in charge of the Publicity Branch when this was established in 1926. He became Publicity Manager in 1927. For the greater portion of 1930 he was also acting commercial manager.

When he started on the work there was no “Railways Magazine” and no Publicity Branch, and he had to organise both, beginning with one assistant. With a widening of the range of activities the staff grew, and a photographic and plan-printing section was established, which has proved an important part of the Publicity Branch.

Mr. Stewart was an early President of the Wellington Publicity and Advertising Club.

A scene in the Waioeka Gorge between Opotiki and Matawai, North Island.

He helped importantly in the organisation of the Wellington Travel Club, of which he has been Chairman since its formation. His literary links include membership of the executive of the P.E.N. Club.

On 13th May (the eve of his retirement) his colleagues of the Publicity Branch gave him their good wishes with a set of reference books. After warm tributes to his successful career in the branch, it was predicted that he would win further distinction as a writer.

(Rly. Publicity photos.)
Scenes at the Railway Department's exhibit on the closing day (4th May, 1940) of the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition at Wellington.

A pioneer surveyor in bush working: costume: Mr. H. F. Edgecumbe, from a photo., Waikato, in 1882. His son, Frank Edgecumbe, was a surveyor in the King Country, and a grandson, L. F. Edgecumbe, is also a surveyor.