A FLOATING CANTEEN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2600, 23 October 1915, Page 11

A FLOATING CANTEEN

The British Admiralty has fitted np tho old battleship Victorious as a float ing canteen at a cost of £5000, which lias been provided by the Dockers' Union and a Bristol firm of steyedores., The battleship has been moored in tlie Clyde alongside Armstrong's great sliip-build-ing works. The canteen is a plain but well-equipped building, capable of seating 350_ dockers in the main dining-liall. There is a separate room for women, and another for clerks or officials of the permanent dock staff. There is also a bar, but at present no alcoholic drinks are served. The canteen opens at 5.30 a.m., and closes at 10 o'clock at night. The tariff should make a strong appeal to the economically disposed,, for ono can liavo: Cut off the joint and two vegetables for 6d., plate of cold meat for 3d., tea at Ja. and Id. per eup, bread and butter at per slice. Even at these prices tho canteen committee is confident of making a useful profit, and, in the near future, of being in a position to lower prices. The canteen committee is composed of two representatives of the shipowners, two members of the Bristol docks committee, two officials of tho Dockers' Union, and two representatives of the permanent staff of the docks. An idea of tho need of a canteen may be gathered from the fact that hitherto, at a little tent opened by n local clergyman, the number of cups of tea sold to dockers in the course of a day often ran into four figures. No money passes over the counter at tho canteen. Books nro issued to customers containing six half-penny, six Id., four 3d., four 6d., and six 7d. tickets.