CITY'S LUNCH HOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20454, 4 January 1930, Page 5

CITY'S LUNCH HOUR.

HOW THE TIME .13 SPENT.

THE STREET-CORNER GROUPS.

ROUTINE OF ANY- WEEK DAY

The recent holidays have robbed the city of the liveliness which is daiiy imparted to it by the movements of its workers, and for the time-being all the animation and sparkle of ths luncheon period and the rush and bustle of the morning and evening have disappeared. Until the business houses and professional offices are again opened, Queen Street Will wear a dejected air, which it will be impossible for the holiday-makers to relieve.

At ordinary times, between 12 o'clock and 2 o'clock each day is the most interesting period, as it is then that the citycomes into its rightful ownership. After the hurry of the morning rush to work, Queen Street passes into the alien hands of shoppers and visitors, and only occasionally are its toilers to be' seen out of doors, bent on some mission which cannot- be attended to by telephone. In the main, manager, shop assistant and office worker are submerged during the morning, but the luncheon period serves to bring them up for a " breather." Tearing themselves from the wheels of commerce, these toilers of the city relax for the short time at their disposal before they are again called to duty.

Students of human nature would find much to keep them occupied by walking up Queen Street shortly after mid-day. Groups of young men, fewer gatherings of girls, and, occasionally, a collection of middle-aged men, are met with on any week day. For this is how most of the workers spend the short time at their disposal after having luncheon and before resuming for' the afternoon's work.

The Mid-day Meal. To all intents and purposes the workers can be divided into two classes—these who lunch at a restaurant, and those who bring their luncheon to work, eating it at the office or shop. - There are some who have their mid-day meal in their own home, but these are either still under the glamour of a recent marriage, or the fortunates who live handy to Queen Street. Those who lunch at a restaurant are mainly business or professional men seeking the association of their kind. As a general rule they have one establishment which they patronise regularly, and, more often than not, there is a tacit understanding that they meet, a group of their fellows at a certain time. Luncheon is followed by the inevitable cigarette while the news of the day or " sfiop " is discussed. Perhaps a walk along Queen Street and a more or less jpunctual return to the office follows.

Typistes and girl shop assistaE.ts form the vast majority of those who eat a cut luncheon, possibly on the premises, or in the parks. Workers in the factories aiso come within this class, but they very rarely appear in Queen Street, as most of the factories are well back from the main thoroughfare.

The Street-Corner Habit. 'But it is not the mere eating oi lunch which makes the luncheon period such an interesting one. Were a census to be taken of those people in Queen Street between 12 and 2, it would probably bo found that the young man predominates. It is the youth of Auckland about which we are concerned, as some unkind remarks have been made regarding his "lounging" habit. It is no doubt true that a hot day will find many young Aucklanders propping up verandah poles in the short space of time available after luncheon. After all, the time is very short and the offenders, who have not yet risen to executive positions, are obliged to keep regular office hours. It is practically certain that any young man working at an office in the city can be found at some spot in Queen Street at a certain time about mid-day. The average man does very little shopping during this period, and it is still the prerogative of young men to congregate at corners. Most of these young men have a regular meeting-place on Queen Street, whereat to meet their friends and acquaintances, and the different coteries always respect each others' spots. In the main the school or the playing-field has given each at least a nodding acquaintance and, as the visitor to the city is in the minority for the time being, it is very seldom that any meeting-place is usurped. In general, too, the police do not molest the gatherings, and the times are few and far between when an officer decides that the groups are straying a little too far from the edge of the footpath, and considers intervention necessary.

Sport the Eternal Talk. Most of these \'oung men are ardent followers of one pastime or another, and the conversation generally turns on sport. As the experiences of the week-end are still fresh in the mind, Monday is the day when the talk is most animated. In the winter it is all football, and to a lesser degree tennis or cricket or yachting ir. the summer. As many of these groups are concerned in a week-end or full-time bach at some popular resort, there is generally a full discussion of the previous day's or evening's happenings cn the beach, and every "detail and individual incident is recounted at great length. Conversation never flags until the town clocks have almost reached the hour. By two o'clock, the groups have all dispersed and the stream of pedestrians again flows evenlv. Queen Street then becomes the rendezvous of the leisured afternoon shopper. y