THE RAILWAY CROCKERY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 121, 14 February 1908, Page 5

THE RAILWAY CROCKERY.

Referring to tho cup and saucer losses sustained by railway' refreshment stall keepers, Mr. Langstone, of tho Mastorton railway refreshment rooms,,informs our.Wairarapa correspondent that- his losses in this direction, which avorage, perhaps, ; £40 a year, are greater whenever he indulges in any special fancy pattern or brand of crockery. At one time railway refreshment-room' keepers indented largo supplies, with the names of. their 'rooms neatly branded on tho cup and saucer, at an extra cost of about 2s. 6d.: per dozen, but tho public generally showed such a partiality for the products of this enterprise that tho system had to- be abandoned.. The restaurant jkeepers, now go in for a cheap pattern, but apparently something of tho Castiron variety is badly-needed. Pilfering is very common. Women havo been caught basketing articles of delf, along with a stray knife and a spoon and any tumblers which might be handy at tho time. When remonstrated with, tho delinquents havo boldly stated that they were gathering up the merchandise for tho restaurant man himself. Another trouble for the. keepers is that with no special brands on the crockery they are never quite sure where the articles aro going to finish up when.once thoy are on tho railway. Tho express trains dislodge their accumulations each day at Napier;and Wellington. The stufF is then packed in boxes and railed to Kaitoke and Waipukurau respectively, which are tho ; first refreshment stations. The keepers there hdvo the first pick, and then, the crockery is again sont on to its several supposed destinations. , It often happens that there are mistakes in making the selection; .and'tho keepers fight tho matter out with-much dissatisfaction amongst: themselves. It is suggested that the Government should supply tho crockery at all the refreshment rooms.