STATE-CONTROLLED HOTELS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 55, 3 November 1915, Page 2

STATE-CONTROLLED HOTELS.

DARWIN'S EXPERIENCE. Darwin, October 25. The .State control of hotels tor the first three weeks lias produced no remarkable change, except in tho wages bill. It has not reduced drinking in Darwin. The drink bill is probably over £IOO daily. One hotel, when under private control cost for wages monthly £SO. Under State control its wages sheet has increased to £l6O monthly, plus many concessions, such as leave, fares, and hours, which were not given under private management, Management costs have been excluded from these figures in both cases, and the cost under the State will increase as concessions, by way of holidays, sick pay,! and fares, accrue. ' ' J i Already there is a' talk of increasing tariffs, while "the Government liquor stoics, opened by selling at higher rates than previously ruled. The State hotels on Saturday experienced tbeir first strike, when the A'.W.TJ. called out its members employed by the hotels, and induced the waitresses and housemaids and Chinese servants, who are not members of tho union, also to cease work. All the bars were closed. Managers of the hotels threw open their kitchens to the boarders, who, with the help oT tinned goods, obtained scratch meals. Altogether about 180 boarders are affected, fully one-third of whom are A.W. U. members. Yesterday the union permitted the Chinese cooks to return, but no waiting or other house work is allowed. The dispute is over one or two lines in the log.