RAILWAY REFRESHMENTS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12426, 19 August 1933, Page 7

RAILWAY REFRESHMENTS.

25 PER CENT. CUT. In announcing a new scale re the above, Air H. H. Sterling, chairman of the Railways Board, said that at its last meeting the Board had given very full consideration to the results that had been achieved in the last financial year in the operation of the Department’s refreshment branch. The net result showed an increase in the profit on tlie year's work of £1,247 as compared with the previous year. This has been achieved notwithstanding a drop ot £12,728 in tlie revenue. While tliis position could be regarded as reasonably satisfactory the Board had given considerable thought to tlie question of further improvement. More recently public opinion had been centreing* around the charges made for refreshments served over the counter and the Board, after consideration of all the factors, felt that it would be justified in making a reduction in the principal items of consumption in ( this category. It had therefore decided that the price of tea, coffee and cocoa should be reduced from 4d to 3d per cup and of sandwiches from 4d to 3d each. This would, of course, involve the Department in some loss at the outset but the Board felt that the experiment was worth while with a, view to exploring the possibilities. It was the Board’s policy to endeavour to provide all its services at the very lowest possible cost commensurate with sound business operation and it hoped that tlie public appreciation of the Board’s decision as now announced would manifest itself in such a stimulation ot the business ns iiould maintain and possibly improve the financial return to the Department and at the same time afford a greater measure of service to the public.