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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. [Volume 39, Issue 8. April 1976]

Robert "Limp Parsley" Lithgow on the Mat

Robert "Limp Parsley" Lithgow on the Mat

Dear John,

At first the idea of a survey of cheap eating-houses around Wellington seemed a valid on for a student newspaper, but the major achievement of the "Get Stuffed" column in Salient so far would be the vivid illustration of the objectionable social attitudes of Mr Lithgow, in particular and possibly many students in general.

His treatment of the 'Great Wall Cafe' (Salient 5) almost made us gag on our chop sueys. We do of course realise that one's taste- buds and appetites are highly subjective matters. In our experience, however, the servings at the Great Wall are quite adequate for all but the most gluttonous appetite. Again, we have had no cause for complaint at the quality of our meals, these having been uniformly well-prepared.

We note that Mr Lithgow's comments about his sweet and sour pork (ie 'a basic fish and chip batter') and duplicated in his review of the 'Sweet and Sour' restaurant. Would it be presumptuous of us to suggest that over-indulgence in the aforementioned fish and chips may have mutilated his taste-buds?

What irritates us most about Mr Lithgow's survey, however, is the arrogance and condescension of his remarks on the decor and servide of The Great Wall Cafe (eg 'soiled menu matches the shop'.... 'surroundings are dreary, decor dirty'.... 'service indifferent'). And how about this, 'No effort is exerted to serve at your table but it can be forced if you refuse to notice the food sitting on the counter'.

Poor Mr Lithgow! Maybe he would be happier in a society like South Africa, where a black could shine his shoes as part of the service.

Some of us, however, do not mind the effort of collecting our food and returning the empty dishes. Some of us do not object to surroundings which, if dreary, are certainly not dirty, as long as we can obtain a cheap, satisfying meal there.

And so some of us will contiue to visit the Great Wall Cafe while Mr Lithgow and others of his ilk continue to patronise restaurants more suited to their bourgeois sensibilities.

Yours sincerely,

'Three Non-Elitist Eaters'