THE CREW'S MESS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 267, 4 August 1908, Page 7

THE CREW'S MESS.

= IMPROVED FOR SEAMEN, DNIOJif: COMPANY'S NEW- BILL OF , FARE.' ' S [Some.weeks ago it, waj reported in The Dominion that the "Union Company had in- . auguratod a schome tiic mess of the .trows, on their'vessels'would tie considerably mproved. • The'.cxporimental -stages qf this icheme,' which to Mr. 'J. F, i'. Xirby's.• adminiptratjon, have given/lidmir-: ible results, an : d the same gentleman is l liow pntjnisted -with 'the.■■vyorlf., of introducing it ;o' additional isteamers/' The crews of the ' , Maheiio and Mooraki wero"tho 1 first to reap the benefit, of 1 tho, amended fare and atten-' of its adjvantages.... 'Mr. llirby has since. added to [the; comfort ,of'the Waikare's cieny'aiid is • ! at' present; ministering' to; the wants of the !crdwr; on the'turhino. steamer Maori.. : j The new scliomo involves extra considerable. •• texpensb,: A' steward, called tho creiy's at*. •' is,[o'mployed .to attend to the men's ■ : quarters, .set : table, wash dishes', otc. •; The "daily allowance ...of food is drawn at 4 p.m. ;-pn ; the preceding day, and kept in a safe, <noiie , ; being allowed 1 . ; to acoumulato there. Tho 'attendant' takes orders from ..one man only, whp r is; tho appointed delegate of ■ tho i Union and approved of by the master of the vessel. ; One. important.'into in the regulations is. that tho meat is* not carved'on tho mess: tdble'aß; formerly, biit comes from the ■ galley already- gut." and dished up, with gravv; 'etc'.

The'', following will, give an idea of the old "'P new fare for'dinner that is'pre-sented-'on ,'the .different days of the week, commencing from Sunday:— . •' .. , . THE OLD MENU. ' •'..Soup. .;;;,Roast, beef or pork. Potatoes. Vegetables, Plum pudding. : Soup.» Boiled Mutton. Totatoea Soup. . Corned beef and carrots. Potatoes. , . Soup.' Roast mutton.'. Potatoes. 1 Soup. . Roast beof. Potatoes.. Vegetables , ;Plum' pudding. • '• Jea sjiup.. Boiled mutton; Potatoes. ,', Soup,- Copied beef and carrots., Potatoes, u'V .'■): THE NEW ONE. - . • ; Roast beef or pork. ; Potatoes, , ..Vegetables: , ( Pjum pudding. ".■■ •, S'oiip. ' Boiled njutton, Potatoes. Rice pudding.. ' -, . Soup,' Corned beef and carrots. Potatoes. Bread and butter pudding.: Soup. v Roast mutton. Potatoes. Sago •, pudding.', ■ . '.- . ' ' Soup. r ßoast beof. Potatoes. Vegetables. .'-Plum pudding. Pea soup. Boiled mutton. Potatoes. Bread and butter pudding. Soup. Corned beef and carrots, Potatoes. Rice pudding. Another important addition is. that while under tho old, system-coffod was served with breakfast and tea (at tea time without milk), ■ tho new schemo provides for either tea or coffee at' any meal with milk in addition. For breakfast tho men on Fridays have a choice of either fish or meats, and on two - additional days potatpes aro added to the evening repast. Knives, forks, and other utensils are supplied by the Company. A talk with thoihon on one of the boats working under tho now award was convincing. They were certain the improved conditions if carried out as thoy had been introduced by Mr. Kirby would bo attended with success, and adopted by other shipping companies. Mr.' Kirby left for Lyttelton by the. Maori last night, and it is understood lie will .come to. and fro with the vessel to see that things aro working satisfactorily.