"BRING YOUR OWN"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 29, 30 November 1943, Page 5

"BRING YOUR OWN"

GLASSES FOR SOCIALS HIRING IMPOSSIBLE

A published notice to prospective patrons of a social gathering to bet held in New Plymouth to "bring your own glasses as, owing to wftr conditions, these cannot, be hired," conjures up strange visions of men making their way -with great care to the rendezvous, lest a chance bump should destroy the vessel carefully concealed in a pocket,, and thus deprive them of the means of properly participating in the • convivial occasion. This is a new angle on the arrangements for social occasions and, like many others that have arisen out of such gatherings in the- position of having to exercise resource in the. catering arrangements for socials. The getting to a social with a glass drinking vessel secratedi on [one's person may not be so difficult, but the getting home afterwards may be a different matter. With the changing of positions that often take place during such proceedings there may be. a risk' c& the interchange of "properties," and some provision might be made for the rinsing or washing of glasses before. they are taken away. Getting Home Risks The homeward journey, however, may be fraught with risks. Steps may be less steady than those on. the way to the social hall, and a chance bump •might result in a\ participant landing home with a pocket, full of glass splinters in lieu of one of his wile's choice crystal goblets. And with the -difficulty of I replacement at the present time his explanations might- not. be considered very convincing. The general shortage of glasses is felt more acutely by the : licensed trade than by restaurants, it was discovered when incrumes were made. Auckland glass manufacturers make a tumbler the correct size for hotel use, but the shape is different from Avhat they have used in the past and not favoured for this reason. Before the war tumblers were; pur-r chased mainly from Czechoslovakia and Great Britain, and some from. Australia. Now retailers have to get most of their supplies From, New Zealand manufacturers who are finding it difficult to fill requirements. Restaurants., which do not use glasses so much and do not suffer as many breakages, seem to be able to keep up their supplies, as they can occasionally purchase half, a dozen tumblers at a time. Retailers' stocks arc continually very low. Because of the general shortage of glasses, and the difficulty of replacement hiring of glasses, has baeik discontinued except* for certain, small private social parties.