EATING HOUSE DRAMA.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17075, 31 August 1917, Page 7

EATING HOUSE DRAMA.

CASTE: GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS . AND TRAVELLING PUBLIC.

(Contributed.)

• Scene: State-owned Marton Junction Railway Eating-House.

Enter: A fairly large number of hiungry travellers, including a longwliiskered way-back and a soldier.

Waitress steps forward briskly and presents menu card.

"Pea-soup for me," answered "Whiskers."

"Fish, for me," commanded the soldier. •

"Mutton for me," interrogated a mild-looking young fellow apparently nervous of train going without him.

Soldier afraid he is not likely to get his two bob's worth, makes an assault on a plate of nice fresh br.,ad; uses a very liberal spreading of butter. Nice layer still left on knife.

Enter waitress with pea soup. Wayback gets on outside of his little lot except the drippings on his whiskers.

Soldier supplied with fish. Wants to help himself to cabbage and potatoes. Plenty in vegetable dishes, but no spoons. No time to wait for spoons or to send out for the high salaried "boss." Soldier digs in his knife—blade of which is liberally covered with unused butter —into cabbage. 'Leaves a little butter on the cabbage for the next fellow.

Way-back enjoys, soup, judging by noise accompanying each spoonful. Quick exit of soup. Cup of tea wanted. Silvered tea-pot to supply all in vicinity. Half fills cup with tea and adds to fulness with milk. Wa'uts sugar. Nice silvered basin, but no sugar spoon.' Way-back stirs mixture of tea and milk well round in cup with tea-spoon, then dives it into sugar. Anxious to know if tea is sweetened sufficiently 'to taste. Discovers it is not, but in process of tasting with spoon removes a little of pea-soup leavings on whiskers.. Once more dashes spoon plus soup into sugar dish.

Lady opposite with tender stomach makes exit, but pays 2/- to the railway porter or shunter who is compelled to leave his ordinary job much against his will, to take two 'bob' for something that cannot cost more than 1/2 or 1/3 to produce.

Nervous young man still waits for mutton. Waitress brings apple pie. Told her he ordered mutton. "Sorry, sir, mutton is,'off.' " "Give me beef then." "Sorry, sir, beef is 'off' too." "What have you got then. I have waited a long time." "Sorry; we have pork." "Bring me porlc then." Waitress brings pork. Young man terribly nervous lest he is going to miss train, and swallows meat and vegetables like a flash. Calls waitress and asks for apple pie.

"Sorry, sir, apple pie is now off. Have nice plum pudding." "Doesn't matter." Up he jumps and nervously makes rush for doof, but pays 2/- to man in box for meal he would have been better without.

Soldier does well. Leaves room content, regardless of the butter left on cabbage.

Result: Railway Manager satisfied that he is extracting from every patron of State-owned dining-room the sum of 2/- for a meal that is as well served up, and under more hygienic and palatable conditions for 1/3, in privately-conducted restaurants at either Auckland, Wellington or Wanganui.

Government has no rent to pay for these rooms.

Query: Why should the State charge 2/-' when other monopolies would be prosecuted for legitimately charging more than they should under war conditions?

Suggestion: With the huge profits being made out of the travelling public, more spoons should b° purchased, and vegetables should be provided to each person on separate platters with different sections, so that every man eateth unto himself.