WHAT M.P.'S EAT AND DRINK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18197, 16 September 1922, Page 2 (Supplement)

WHAT M.P.'S EAT AND DRINK.

y *, LESS WINE, MORE BEER. Great change* that have taken place of lato years in the" social life or Parliament were described by Mr. Q. Willslier, the manager of tho refreshment department of the House of Commons, who has been there for 21 years, and is now leaving to become manager of a seaaido hotel. "Twenty-one* years ago," he said, " there were, I believe, only about three members who did not change into evening dress for dinner. They were tho-pioneers of the Labour Party, Mr. Burt, Mr. Fenwick, and Mr. Henry Broadhurst- To-day it is tho exception, rather than the rule, for members on ordinary occasion to dine in evening dress. " Tho present day menus are three or four courses fewer than they uscT" to he. Now the usual numbor is seven or eight courses. Dinner-time is also much earlier than it used to be, partly, I think, because many members do not eat any lunoheon. They confine themselves practically to two menls a day—breakfast .ma dinner—and want the latter meal about six o'clock. Far less wino is drunk than formerly at the House. " Bottled beers, which were hardly ever drunk in the House twenty years ago, are now a common beverugo, and it was only three years ago that tho cheaper brands of cigarettes, which now have a ready sale, began to be supplied at the House of Commons. Nothing but tho most expensive cigars satisfied tho members of a generation ago when they wantod to i smoke. " On the other hand there are not, I think, so many vegetarians and teetotalers among members as there were then- Certainly there are far fewer in this Parliament than in the last. There is also a great deal more entertainmont of guesrs dono at the House by members than there ever used to be. Normally about 800 tea J, 450 dinners,, and 300 luncheons on an average aro served daily. " The famous .teas on the. Terrace in the season aro more numerous than ever, but this is no longer tho exclusive social function that it used to be. " Colonel Loekwood, now Lord Lambourne, introduced a shilling dinner lor members, when he was chairman of tho Kitchen Committee at the time of tho arrival of the' Labour Party. That consisted of joint, two vegetables, sweet, and bread, butter, and cheese. It disappeared with tho war, but members for Is 9d can still obtain joint, two vegetables, cheese, bread and butter; and large numbers of them have this only. " Cabinet Ministers always have a special table in one of tho dining rooms at which no one below that rank may sit, but no special fcod is served to them. The Primo Minister prefers cold dishes tat all times." •