S.19
By Local Contract
136,750.21
From Stores Department (oils, petrol &c.)
42,373.41
Other Departments
3,270.84
Crown Agents
90,865.63
857,637.81
Adjustment for stores not paid for
574.42
Total
$976,145.80
Stores issued
828,193.74
Balance of Unallocated Stores at 31.12.38
$147,952.06
VII.
STAFF.
100. The writer proceeded on long leave on March 5th and returned to the Colony on December 2nd. During his absence, Mr. E. S. Carter was seconded from the Public Works Department to act as Manager and Chief Engineer.
101. Mr. A. J. C. Taylor, the Chief Accountant, was transferred to the Treasury on October 23rd, and Mr. W. R. N. Andrews was seconded from the Harbour Office to act in his place.
102. Mr. I. B. Trevor, the Traffic Manager, proceeded on long leave on November 14th, and Mr. A. E. Perry, the Traffic Assistant, was appointed to act in his stead.
103. Mr. C. C. Stimpson was appointed Permanent Way Inspector on March 25th and arrived in the Colony on April 27th. Mr. T. Henderson, who was seconded from the Public Works Department to act in this post, returned to his Department on April 15th.
104. Mr. L. Sykes was appointed Senior Traffic Inspector on August 26th and arrived in the Colony on September 28th.
105. Staff strength at the end of the year was 568, comprising 353 monthly paid and 215 daily paid employees, as against the previous year's figures of 348 and 220 respectively.
106. The Railway Recreation Club membership at the close of the year was 154.
107. The strength of the Railway First Aid Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas, at the end of the year, was 40 officers and men, all of whom passed the Annual Examination. Eight accidents were treated, the most serious being two cases of fracture of the skull.
108. The Railway Operating Detachment Cadre of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps was maintained at full strength throughout the year.
VIII.-APPRECIATION.
109. During the period under review, traffic reached limits never before attained, and taxed severely the resources of the Administration. When conditions like this prevail, staff strength invariably lags behind requirements due to the impossibility of obtaining additional trained men without the lapse of considerable time. This imposes a severe strain on all grades, and long hours have to be worked. Railway men are seldom found wanting when confronted by situations of this nature, and the staff of this Railway proved no exception to the rule. Their loyalty and devotion to duty through a period of unparalleled activity is gratefully acknowledged by the Administration.
R. D. WALKER,
M. Inst. C.E., M. Inst. T., Manager & Chief Engineer.
February 16th, 1939.