PROBLEM OF FOOD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22719, 4 May 1937, Page 14

PROBLEM OF FOOD

ORGANISING SUPPLIES LONDON FIRMS BUSY SPECIAL BUFFETS AND STALLS CATERING WORK FOR MILLIONS [from our own correspondent] LONDON, April 10 All records for feeding and drinking will be broken by the big catering firms who are now planning their arrangements for the vast crowds in the London streets and parks on Coronation Day. It is hoped that nobody will have to go hungry or thirsty on May 12, in spite of the difficult transport probof getting supplies to tho various places before' the streets become impassable. In tho stands and along tho routo controlled by the Government, including Hyde Park, Constitution Hill, Tho Mall, Parliament Square and the Embankment, sightseers will be amply provided for by the catering firm which has granted full and unrestricted facilities to serve all classes of refreshments along this route. Parks to Remain Open There will be buffets at intervals of about 75 yards at 50 points behind the stands, and 12 marquees in Hyde Park and Green Park, with eight large store marquees to act as "feeders" for the refreshment places. These will be open from 6 p.m. on May 11 until midnight on May 12, staffed by 600 waitresses and others who will work in fourhour shifts continuously during that time. In' addition 200 uniformed boys will tour these »stands with food, chocolate and cigarettes. It is understood that the parks will remain open all night on Coronation eve, but whether that privilege will be continued during the period of the Coronation illuminations to May 20 will depend on police regulations. Electric light, gas, water and automatic boilers are being installed at all necessary points to ensure efficiency in catering arrangements.

Four Tons of Chocolate It is estimated that the food provided by this one catering firm will cost approximately £20,000. Roughly, this will include —estimating that there will be 90,000 in the stands and about one million people along the route — 100,000 sandwiches to be sold at 3d each; 50,000 meat pies, veal and ham pies (3d each); 100,000 assorted buns, cakes, etc. (Id and 2d); 1000 slabs of fruit cake (2d and 4d each piece); £IOOO worth of 2d packets of assorted biscuits, delivered in 10 vans; £3OOO worth of chocolates, weighing about four tons, to be delivered in six vans; tea (3d a cup); 50,000 half-pint cartons of milk for children on the Embankment; 100,000 half-pint cartons of milk .for public (3d each); 25001b. of fruit essences, to produce 250,000 flas6es of orangeade and lemonade, as ottles might be dangerous. Short Shifts for Staffs After the procession has passed there will be large numbers of people served at the Tea House in Hyde Park and the Tea House in Kensington Gardens. One party of 2000 north country visitors who will be brought to Hampton .Court in coaches after they have seen .the procession will have a meat tea. Ko alcoholic drinks will be served in any of the marquees or buffets mentioned. It is estimated that the various catering firms which have tea shops and restaurants in the streets through which the profession will pass, will serve at least another million people, including those on private stands and in windows. A special staff of experts is engaged in solving the Coronation Day problems of J. Lyons and Company, Limited, who will provide food for thousands in their 23 teashops along the route of the procession. The staffs will arrive at the teashops at 6 a.m. They will be on duty for short periods, with rest time in between. Special facilities will be provided for them to see the procession.

Private Entertaining A representative of a well-known catering firm states that bookings are full night after night almost from the beginning of May to the end of July with private parties and balls. Messrs. Lyons have already 40 catering contracts for Coronation Day alone. Parties range from 120 to 1200. In addition, the firm is messing the 60fi0 Coronation troops to be quartered at Olympia. Food is not the only thing that makes for the success of hosts. Surroundings must be adequate. Those who provide outdoor decorations, marquees and tents, are working at great pressure. Many additional marquees and tents are required for the coming season, for there will be a very large number of social events. Extra hands have had to be engaged to deal with the rush.

MANNEQUINS AT PALACE FROCKS FOR THE QUEEN SPECIAL STAFF OF WAITERS . [FROM A SPECIAL COKBESFOXDENT] ' V LONDON. April 10 The loveliest and best-paid mannequins in England arc appearing before the Queen in almost daily fashion parades at Buckingham Palace. These girls, who receive £IOOO a year, have been specially chosen io display the ball frocks, evening capes, dazzling Court gowns and day clothes which Queen Elizabeth will wear during Coronation month. ,JS T o girl is less than sft. Sin. in height—'the Queen prefers tall models to display fashions. Dignified, six-feet-tall waiters are being trained at the Palace for the series of luncheons, dinners and dances at which the King and Queen will entertain their guests. They have been specially selected from clubs and famous hotels and restaurants for their appearance and eftciency in matters of etiquette. Each of the waiters is receiving additional instruction to equip him for the peculiar service at Court functions.

OX-ROASTING OPPOSED PROTEST BY VEGETARIANS ® [from a special correspondent] "■ LONDON. April 17 Traditional ox-roasting is to form part of the official Coronation celebrations in various parts of the country. Organised vegetarians are again protesting ' The Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin. ! has made the following reply to the • protests: —"The form which local celeI hrations for the Coronation will take ' is a matter within the discretion of < the local authorities, and is one with | which the Government could hardly I interfere. No doubt, the local authorij ties will have regard to the wishes of the inhabitants in the district coni corned." ! The London Vegetarian Society is * not prepared to allow the matter to I rest. In Hastings, and other places - where ox-roasting is proposed, propa- . panda is being organised in an attempt j; to stop tho spectacle.