THE COUNTER LUNCH.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 565, 21 July 1909, Page 4

THE COUNTER LUNCH.

* '"' HOTSAUSAGE AND POTATO,

A RESTATJBATEUR, IN REPLY

In connection with tbo subject of the free counter-lunch, as now being supplied by a 'certain ■ hotel in tho city, the of the "sixpenny" restaurant previously interviewed by our roportor lias tho following to gay' by way of reply t<i the remarks of the hotelkeoper in question, published, in yestordayV issue:-—

i "First, as: to the statement that it, is oflly-waste .from tho kitchen 'used- to supply the counter-lunch, I should like to know, if tho! hundredweight; of potatoes- and the'hundredweight of sausages, and tho 50 loaves of broad that are used daily are under tho category- of kitchen; waste, <or are | thoy a charge on the profit' from the' fourpenny. beers ?.

"Again, ns to tho right of hotelkcopers 'to try and induce trade.' Why not. sell the boor at 2d. por pittP■ It ■ would bo,a muoh more elfectivo tradfe inducement. No doubtthe averago working man : enjoys tho fare provided, but where will tho business, end? I submit that hotolkoepora will,- in< the or: dmary course of business competition, have to go even further than the hot Sausage and potato, and the ultimate result will be that tho public-house bar will-become the dmnorhoUT rendezvous of the working man, to the detriment of the restaurant-keeper, and tho community in general. , "And, finally, seeing that the hotelkeoper is granted a monopoly of the saleof beer, is it legitimate business trading if ho uses the privilege of his hconso to take away our trader Our. price for'tho meal served (sixponce) - is the bedrock price at which the foods provided-, can .'be*-.sold. Unless wo get a big turnover, thoro is not oven rent' in it. We aro covered, by award: regulations, which do' not affect tno workers in hotel bars. To a biscuit and cheese, or-sandwiches and ■ snacks on hotel counters, I have no objection; but unless some limit is reached m this 'free meal' business, -we'll have to close, and, m tho end, the working man will bo the sufferer. Onoe abolish tho 'sixpenny' restaurant; and tho working man will have' to pay a shilling: whon eventually tho counter-lunch goes out of-practice. After all, except in times of severe distress, tho 'counter-lunch is- only availed of by the unemployed class.' When employed, tho genuine worker-comes to our establishments. It is to his benefit to keep us going till thd depression eases."