“Coupon-shy” Public at Restaurants

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 55, 8 March 1944, Page 4

“Coupon-shy” Public at Restaurants

Talking to several restaurant propriet- . ors of Palmerston North yesterday, a ; representative of the ‘‘Times’’ was told * that the public are "coupon-shy” and have ! not sufficient coupons to obtain meals con- ■ sisting of rationed meat. -Owing to this, 1 meat which had been prepared for meals ] could not be served to customers and con- 3 sequently had to be wasted with considerable loss to the restaurant. Quite a big proportion of the public seemed ignorant 1 of the fact that coupons wore necessary to . obtain meals which included rationed meat and at least one restaurant had to adopt the practice of requesting customers to produce their coupons before serving meals. Others brought the matter before the eyes of customers by writing beside the item on the menu the number of coupons required. Soldiers on less than 24 hours leave are nof, issued with coupons for meat, while those on 24 hours or longer leave are issued with one coupon per day. As fish is practically unobtainable or at the best can only be obtained on two days a week, the majority of people who dine in the city, have to be content with a meal consisting of sausages or ham with vegetables. The situation is particularly difficult for those restaurants which cater for meals only and do not supply morning and afternoon teas, milk shakes or ice creams. There was a representative meeting oi the restaurant proprietors of Palmerston North yesterday to discuss the situation and to elect representatives to sit on the Rationing and Food Control Committee, Palmerston North. jMr- I>. J. Rogers, of C. M. Ross Co., was elected, with JMr. J. H. Burrell as deputy representative.