"LIVE AND LET LIVE."

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 177, 21 April 1908, Page 10

"LIVE AND LET LIVE."

Sir,—Your correspondent writing over theabove heading apparently misunderstands me. I am not complaining of tho varied tariffs. That is another question. Still, I must thank the writer for bringing his opinion into print, as others may misjudge:my meaning. Please allow mo again to explain/- It is the mean manner, that the public are often treated by some boarding-house proprietors that I object to, both as regards tho quality of food supplied, and ' the '• total absence of proper attention, and in many 'cases general un-cleariliriess..,-I havo struck some awful places. On' the line between Wellington and .this,, town, at a certain place, it was not necessary to ring the dinner-bell one day. Tho roast beef seemed;to como right up in the bedrooms and toll the boarders that it was

there. There was a vacancy in that house.for . a' temporary boarder, 'and I was out canvassing for fresh apartments. I .had. managed breakfast, but the second hurdle beat me, and I thought it prudent to be scratched for the;next event beforo the bell sounded. In ono placo the food may be good and the accommodation bad, and vice vorsa. Somc-_ times the waitress has a large supply of the tired feeling, and if you ask her for any little service, such as an extra cup of tea, alio : will-throw her_nose up.in the. atmosphere and look as unpleasant as possible, and then go over and finish her talk' with' some highcollared youth, maybe, who is monopolising Her attention. In one case I noted it. was the daughter, of the house that was. the waitress, and, on a gentleman asking for something, her gushing lover said to'her in an undertone, "Oh,.let him wait!" Candidly speaking, if there is a curse it is when the daughters of tho house run things. 'They are a pest. Theroiis nothing Jjkc a clinking, up-to-date* waitress, who looks, on her'work as her profession, and treats evoryone alike* and leaves. the spooney., business. alone till after business hours. ( ' But why weary your readers • with these grievances. ' I .emphatically; state that tho Government ought to appoint at least two inspectors for each of God's Own, Islands, who will-have power to make surprise-visits to any] boarding-house and fine all offenders against the public. T'repeat, it is nothing but false pretences in many cases, and just a sort of soup foundry,., whore the only consideration is tho' mighty .dollar, and the public aro' a bad second to it. Others, yes, arid hundreds of others, could verify these lines. ■ : ■ There is a tremendous amount of room for improvement, and I do trust this letter will do-a little'good. It'pays to run a concern orij thorough business lilies,'-' and -charge .to leave, a good- profit; but .give'tho .public what is due to them in return, viz., proper attention, civility, decent and tasty food, and make things a , bit more homely all, around. .1. arii'; not speaking' for myself at time' of writing; I am sick of: the boarding-house system, and at present am " baching," and it is all.right. Anbody having, similar complaints to those I make here ought to give it a trial. It is simple as falling off a cart, and only requires a little system and three or four friends tbgether, and, if you all pull together, it is furlongs ahead of .the boarding house system'-as at present conducted in many cases. No; things would not improve if the tariff wero-doublo. Proper supervision by Government officials is tho only remedy—licensed houses, and withdrawal of same if not conducted on proper lines. Thanking 1 you for space on this very important subject,—l am, etc., ARTHUR PICARD. New Plymouth, April 16: v