FOOD AND SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 201, 23 May 1944, Page 6

FOOD AND SERVICE

Australian Conditions An ex-officer of the Wellington tramways department, now retired, who has been visiting his home town m Tasmania, writes interestingly of wartime Australia. He stated that he could not make the trip to Adelaide, as intended, due to the restrictions on travelling. Unless accommodation is booked months ahead, and a deposit paid in advance, there. is little chance of being able to secure diggings, even if you are lucky enough to get transport.” . „ . , Writing of Melbourne and Sydney, lie said: “Queues are the order of the day for meals, beer, tobacco and cigarettes, also theatres. Food is plentiful and cheap in Tasmania and Melbourne—pork, ham, pre-war honey (fid. per lb.), jam (6d. and 7d. for 12oz. tins, 10 J <l. to 1/0i for 240 z. tins). Sydney is very different. There the food is good, but scarce and dear. Milk bars in Sydney do not sell milk, but in Melbourne and Tasmania milk is plentiful; tea and biscuits cost od- m Melbourne, 7d. in Sydney; soft drinks, 4d. in Tasmania, 6d. in Sydney and Melbourne. The cafeteria idea has become very popular, but there are usually queues of about 40 people at the midday rush. Cole’s cafeteria, 500 ft. by 100 ft. in size, is the largest in Melbourne, and there the food is good and cheap. The service at most other places is poor and slow. Practically no males are employed. Hotels in Tasmania still remain open till 10 p.m., while in Sydney and Melbourne the open hours are from 11 a.m. till 6 pan. Hobart retail shops close all day on. Saturdays; and there are no late nights. Similar places in Sydney and Melbourne open on Saturday morning, without any late night. ■