CHARGES FOR RAILWAY REFRESHMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 24824, 17 August 1942, Page 6

CHARGES FOR RAILWAY REFRESHMENTS

Sir, —It has come to my knowledge that our soldiers are suffering at the hands of profiteers while travelling to and from camp. I refer to refreshment rooms on railway stations. A cup of tea costs 4d, a sandwich 3d, a pie . 6d. It is admitted that costs are now high; but still it is suggested that the charges are out of all proportion to the refreshments supplied. The sandwich now is little more than half of its original size and the meat or ham inside is thinner than a razor blade. Now, sir, our soldiers are so surrounded by discipline and regulations that they cannot complain in your columns. Time and again the Government has stated that profiteering will not be permitted and those offending (if caught) will meet with that punishment they richly deserve. The worst feature of the business is that the refreshment rooms are owned and run by the Government. SOUTH AFRICAN SOLDIER.

[There is no railway refreshment branch in Invercargill, but this letter was referred to the District Traffic Manager’s office. In reply it was stated that so far as was known there had been no reduction in the original size of the sandwich. It was also pointed out that the price of meals served in railway dining rooms had been reduced from 2/6 to 2/-.]