MEAL PRICES FIXED

Grey River Argus, 4 June 1943, Page 2

MEAL PRICES FIXED

For N.Z. Restaurants

TO STOP PROFITEERING

P.A. WELLINGTON. June 3. The maximum prices for certain meals, described as “substantial'’, meals, commonly served to the public in restaurants and other eating houses are fixed by a price order gazetted to-night and will come into effect on June 14. The Price ‘tribunal states that a further price order is to be issued within the next few days fixing the maximum chargees for' certain light meals, such as are served in tearooms, milk bars, etc. Neither of these orders will apply to meals served in hotels or boarding houses. The' order had been issued in the interests of the public the Tribunal stated, and would enable appropriate action to be taken when unauthorised charges were made-. It would also protect traders who had complied with the regulations and had not increased prices without the Tribunal’s consent. A considerable number had increased their prices without authority and moreover, with the advent of visiting servicemen, a practic chad arisen in some quarters of charging unreasonable rates. T'he order defined the number and content, of courses for various prices as well as the charges to be made for certain extras. It also required that the quality and quantity of meals and all amenities and services must be maintained as hitherto. Provision is made for an additional charge of sixpence for meals ordered between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. For meals served at any time on certain statutory. holidays, a further additional charge of threepence- is permitted to offset overtime rates. As no overtime is provided for work on Sundays, the charge on Sundays will be the same as for normal week days. The charges in the order are detailed, for instance, a three course meal is two shillings, a fish meal of flounder, blue cod or sole, half-a-crown,. other fish two shillings, and extras such as eggs, fivepence each.