“NO SHOUTING!"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2862, 29 August 1916, Page 6

“NO SHOUTING!"

HOW THE NEW ORDER IS WORKING

FIRST NIGHT VIEWS

That kind of sociability which resolves itself in the invitation to partake of liquid refreshment in a hotel received a severe check yesterday, when tho new aiiti-"shouting" legislation came into force. From inquiries mado in various hotels, a Dominion representative was able to make deductions as well as to receive the opiuions of those best qualified to judge the effect of the new order of things. One of the effects is that tho mid-city hotels will feel the pinch more than the more isolated hotels in streets removed from the centre of the town. Tho latter class of hotel does not depend so much upon the "shouter" as those in the busier parts, inasmuch as they are not frequented by the genus "knut," who has in the past found recreation in "turning it on" for his friends; they are not frequented'with that class who often find a social glass helpful to business. It is tho city hotels which will miss such clients, and, indeed, in one short day have missed tlTeni. One barmaid who was consulted said that business during the day had not fallen away so much in regard to the numbers who had visited the bars, but instead of standing drinks all round, as is 60 often the custom, the one drink, under the new conditions, seemed to have satisfied their requirements. TheiK there were many who had paid "curiosity" visits, "just to see how the thing was working." Those people -would soon satisfy their curiosity, and then—well, she did not know what was going to happen. "You see, it's like this," sho said, "a man doesn't mind accepting a drink from a friend, but it's another thing altogether accepting a sixpence to pay for one before they come into the bar. While it's ail right to tako a drink, some of 'them think it's a bit 'over tho fence' to take a man's money. They might'get over it in time, but I r don't know "

This young lady appears to have hit the nail precisely on the head. The "shouting" habit ha 6 become engrained in the character of peoplo not averse to taking a drink, but whether or not the action of accept ing the price of a drink will become a habit is quite another thing altogether. . In another city hotel the presiding maid characterised the new order of things as "deadly," and admitted that her day's takings would be considerably lower than the average. Taking an optimistic view, • she thought that the habit of each one paying for his own drinks would soon catch on. "Peoplo got used to anything," sho said, "and they'll soon got used to this. Of course, it's awkward, and the fellows are making it as awkward as possible just for tho fun >of tho thing. I had five men in this evening, and they all offered a different coin—shilling, two shillings; half a crown, half a sovereign, and a pound. It took mo about ten minutes to givo them all their chango after I had served the drinks. > They had done it on' purpose, but it* shows you what is possiblo." Several bars wero visited during tho evening by our representative, and it was pretty evident that Tih'o • laws against "shouting" had'not improved business. Some of tho publicans now believo that it might lmvo been more advantageous, from their point of view, for the Government to havo closed the bars at 7 or 8 o'clock rather than prohibit shouting. It is early yet to draw definite conclusions, as to the cffect of the new legislation. Time alone will tell. One thing is, however, certain, and that is that, a certain class of person who "hang upon other men's favours" in the matter, of liquid refreshment, and who are _ generally voted a distinct nuisance, will not faro so well as in the past. -

An amended- War Regulation, issued last night, makes all the anti-"shout-ing" rules apply to pPemises in which a New Zealand wine-license is held as well as to public-bouses.