THE HOUSE “SHOUTS”

Evening Star, Issue 23179, 31 January 1939, Page 13

THE HOUSE “SHOUTS”

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AGAINST PRACTICE COSTS UP 20 PER GENT. WELLINGTON, January 30. The opinion that if New Zealand hotelkeepers did rrot voluntarily cease “ shouting ” drinks and providing free counter lunch they would bo forced to do so by conditions, was expressed by the president of the Licensed Victual lei's’ Association of New Zealand (Mr T. Coltman) to-day. The executive of the association, Mr Coltman said, believed that the time had arrived when something must he done to meet increased costs. The cost of food had increased 20 to 30 per cent, and that of labour by almost the same amount. The price of liquor to the public, however, had not been increased. Hy eliminating the practice of shouting, licensees, after all, would not be asking the public to pay more for drinks, they would merely be retaining something already belonging to them. The average working man to-day was getting higher wages and it was only fair that licensees should be paid for what they nut over the counter. “ Shouting,” said Mr Coltman, “is a pernicious practice which does not exist anywhere in the world except in New Zealand. In Australia the giving of free counter lunch is absolutely prohibited by the Licensed Victuallers’ Association.’’ Mr Coltman added that the association was trying to obtain uniformity and the result would rest with the licensees themselves.