TEAS FOR A SHILLING

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11767, 14 October 1932, Page 3

TEAS FOR A SHILLING

IN NEW YORK’S BEST HOTEL

TREMENDOUS SLUMP IN

business.^

Three years ago a dauee-tea in any of New York's fashionable and smart hotels would have cost nearly a sovereign. To-day (writes a correspondent at the end of July) the finest hotel on Park Avenue offers afternoon tea- for a shilling a head !

Three years ago Now York hotels were notorious for their terrific prices. To-day any hotel in the city is glad to welcome you with open arms, no matter how much or liow little you have to spend. You may have Ihe pick of Ihe house at pretty much your own figure. Jbe managers aic grateful for the merest crumbs of cash you care to leave behind.

That is a perfectly true picture ot the hotel business in New York today. Prohibition was bad enough, but- the depression added to that i-> driving managers to despair. New York, with its great stores and shops, its gay White AY ay, its AAiall Street, is a magnet' these days in name only. It is the homo of ihe doldrums, and the hotel business is about tlie hardest hit oi' any American industry. The truth of the matter is that Americans simply are not travelling, except perhaps a lew moneyed people a very lew. Three years ago none but the tenderfoot would go fo New York without telegraphing in advance fur hotel accommodation. To-day he may take bis choice and pay wjiat he thinks it is 1101111.

Not a single hotel in New York is doing normal business. Eighty pci cent, of them are being “carried’’ or operated by the banks. Tb 0 other 20 per cent, arc just fading -out. A few days ago the Hotel, Restaurant, Club and Allied Industries’ Association, a body w]iieli claims to represent an industry which has £300,000,000 sunk in it—and “sunk” is the word—unanimously endorsed Mr. Roosevelt for President. The association. is nob interested in politics. H •is interested in the Democratic avowed programme of outright repeal of prohibition.