D.—2.

The wiring of the station building for lighting, heating, power, and electric clocks in that portion of the building now occupied has been completed, and this work in the remaining part of the building is keeping pace with the building progress. Progress has also been made with lighting and power installations in the following yard buildings : Locomotive depot, rail-car shed, sleeping-car depot, yard staff depot, and signal and electrical depot. Main Workshops.—Systematic maintenance of workshops' substations and inspections of all workshops' installations have been carried out during the year. A new 300 k.w. motor alternator set was installed in the Hutt Valley Workshops and it is now supplying power for the butt-welder. Alterations have been carried out in the various workshops to suit requirements of the staff. Additional lights and motors have been installed where required. Motor Installations. —Fourteen motor installations were made at various places during the year, while nine motors were taken out in three localities. Electrical Reticulation. During the year electric lighting was installed in the station buildings and yards at Ellerslie Racecourse, Waharoa, Hinuera, Whangarata, Whangamarino, Ranui, Whakatane West, New Plymouth Breakwater, Waipara, Kaimata, Ikamatua, Templeton, Sefton, Ashburton Saleyards, Mount Somers, Willowbridge, Warrington, Stewart's Gully, Tokanui, and in the bus-garage at Tokarahi. Two hundred and eighty dwellings were also reticulated for electric lighting. Statistics of electrical equipment are as follow : Number of houses electrically lighted .. .. .. .. 2,767 Number of stations electrically lighted .. .. .. .. 368 Number of substations .. .. .. .. .. 21 Total capacity of substations .. .. .. .. .. 12,890 kv.a. Number of station yards flood-lighted .. .. .. .. 13. Track, Plant, and Rolling-stock. The track, bridges, structures, signalling-appliances, rolling-stock, and other plant are in good order, and efficient for the work required of them. STAFF. The total number of staff employed at the 31st March, 1937, including those on works chargeable to capital, was 20,729, as compared with 17,908 for the previous year. The average number actually at work throughout the year was 19,115, as compared with 17,073 the previous year. Of the average number of staff at work during the year 13,267 were permanent and 5,848 were casual employees. The average number of men engaged on works chargeable to capital was 1,366, as compared with 1,348 during the previous year. During the year 114 members of the permanent staff resigned, 91 retired on superannuation, 35 died, and 12 were dismissed or paid off. Employees to the number of 1,565 were engaged. Eighty-two members of the Second Division were promoted to the First Division. A total of £40,997 was paid under the Workers' Compensation Act during the year to members of the Second Division who suffered injury in the course of their employment. In conclusion, I desire to take this opportunity of placing on record my appreciation of the excellent work performed by all members of the Service during the year, and of their loyal co-operation in the carrying-on of the Department's operations. General Manager.

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