COUNTER LUNCHES AND “SHOUTING”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 30 January 1939, Page 4

COUNTER LUNCHES AND “SHOUTING”

MOVE TO ELIMINATE j HIGHER COSTS IN HOTELS l United Press A*scciatiunl I CHRISTCHURCH. 29th January. ) Increased costs, as the result of the! . new hotel employees’ award, have j : brought about the organised effort to i jdo away with counter lunch and; j "shouting.” j A circular sent to all licensees in ! the Canterbury association contained j the following resolution, which was carj ried unanimously:— j ‘‘That this general meeting of memj bers of the Canterbury Licensed Victuallers’ Association recommends all \ licensees in this association, as a means j toward offsetting the increased costs arising from the recent new award, to limit counter lunch as from Ist February next to biscuits, cheese and greens in season.” Comment by the secretary of the Canterbury association, Mr K. N. McGillivray, read:— "The new scheme is to be brought into operation on Wednesday next and, in the light of present circumstances, it is confidently anticipated that sue- ! cess will attend the venture. An ap- ! peal is, therefore, made to each and i every licensee to assist himself by rigidly adhering to the arrangement.” "Elaborate counter lunch and lavish ‘shouting’ has become a bugbear in Christchurch,” said the president of the Canterbury Licensed Victuallers’ Association, Mr J. Mackenzie, this morning. ‘ The public do not appreciate the amount of work and heavy cost involved in preparing hot counter lunch,” he said. "Costs have risen tremendously, wages are higher, hours are

Mr Mackenzie declared that "shouting” in Christchurch was more lavish lhan anywhere else in New Zealand. There were some hotels in the city which did not "shout,” but they had reduced the price of their handles to 4d. However, the whole question was to be reviewed. In the meantime no decision had been made, and those who "shouted” now would no doubt continue to "shout.” NO ACTION TAKEN YET IN AUCKLAND AUCKLAND, 29th January. No meeting has yet been held in Auckland to consider the question of hotel counter lunches. The president of the Auckland Licensed Victuallers' Association, Mr J. C. Griffin, said that the executive might meet later to consider calling a meeting of members, but no action had been taken so far. The Auckland organisation was a separate body from the other associations of the Dominion except in labour matters, and would not necessarily take action because southern associations had done so.