The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-01 00:00:00

The House of Commons and the Dinner

Question.

The Select Committee of the House of Commons,
appointed to control the arrangements of the kitchen
and refreshment rooms in the department of the
Sergeant-at-Arms, have just agreed to a report
respecting the complaints which have been made as
to the arrangements for dining in the Lower House.
It seems that the situation of keeper of the refresh-
ment rooms is considered anything but a desirable
post. Prior to the appointment of the present
keeper the situation had been declined by several
of the principal hotel-keepers and restaurateurs in
London. The business is confined to the dura'ion
of the session, and no dinners are wanted on Wed-
nesdays, Saturdays, or Sundays. But the great
trouble of the keeper is that the members are un-
able to order their dinners a short time before they
are required, as they cannot tell when they may
have the opportunity of dining. At the end of an
important speech or debate there is at once a rush
to the rooms ; " and I consider," says Mr. Steers,
" that no reasonable amount of servants will be
able to supply the immediate wants of members on
such occasions." "It is the number at once," con-
tinues the unfortunate keeper, " that makes the
confusion; no notice, no intimation, but everything
is expected to be ready then and there, even though
nothing has been doing in the room for an hour
previously. During the ten years I have held my
appointment, I have never once been short of sup-
ply, and many members, during last session, were
witnesses to my plentifully preparing for 150 or
more, and only 10 or 12 dining. Even these most
unprofitable disappointments I can meet, and do not
require them to be thought of; but the only consi-
deration which I hope to obtain is, that members,
generally, will endeavour to lessen that confusion
which is only caused by so many wishing to dine at
one and the same time." Plate, linen, glass, chins,
candles, coals, &c., and all kitchen utensils, &c., are
provided, and an allowance of £3OO per annum is
made to the keeper of the refreshment rooms to pro-
vide waiters and other servants, and to pay for
washing, &c. The committee are of opinion that
the cooking and serving np of the dinners are not
so good as they ought to be, and that the wines and
spirits provided are not satisfactory. Upon these
points they have passed the following resolutions :
—"lt is the opinion of this committee that the
state of the kitchen and refreshment department is
unsatisfactory, and ought to be amended. That, un-
less the committee should be of opinion, in the nsont h
of July next, that the well-founded causes of
complaint against the present mode of management
have been removed, it will be their duty to recom-
mend that the present keeper of the refreshment
rooms be superseded. That the present arrange-
ment under which the wines and spirits are pro-
vided by the manager of the kitchen be discontinued,
and that three or more cellars be provided, each of
these cellars to be placed at the disposal of diffe-
rent wine merchants, to be named by the commit
tee, who will each be paid weekly for the wine
consumed." The committee are strongly of opinion
that the width of the rooms must be increased, and
a report and plan of Mr. Barry are included in the
return. The cost of the enlargement suggested
would be £4,650. In an appendix appears a paper
put in by Lord R. Montagu, showing the prices
current at the House of Commons and ten of the
London clubs. These prices relate to upwards o
50 articles, dishes, or meals. We give the "table'

at the various places. At the House of Commons,
the Carlton, and the Junior United Service, it is
6d.; at the United Service, Bd.; at the Athenaeum,