RAILWAY CUPS OF TEA

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 20, 18 October 1944, Page 8

RAILWAY CUPS OF TEA

The charge by the railways refreshment rooms of fourpence for a cup of tea was rtescribed as “absolute profiteering” by Mr. Findlay (Opposition, Hamilton) during the debate on the estimates of the Railway Department in the House yesterday. Terrific profits, he added, werp made by the railways refreshment branch' of the department. Mr. Findlay suggested that a cup of tea and a sandwich should be sixpence, instead of sevenpence, as at present. He said if that were done time would be saved because it would obviate the necessity of the odd change. Mr. Polson (Opposition, Stratford) said that last year the refreshment branch had made profits amounting to £57,000. On top of that the branch made substantial profits from the bookstall side of its activities, and, with these included, its profits last year totalled £86,907. The present refreshment service should be either cheapened or improved. The system should also be improved. One invariably found two or three girls serving In the one place. When a customer was served the girl had to go away to get the tea, then away somewhere else for the food, and then to still another place for the change. There should be one girl to hand out the tea, another the fowl and another to -take tlie money and give the change, and if that were done many more people could be served. At present many passengers had often to board the train again without being served.