Captain C
It was indeed Macs nestled in between TN & AN.
The Chef there could have a steak sandwich ready for you in minutes while you slammed down three pots on your half hour lunch break.
If anyone on an afternoon shift came down from the Market car park on the way to work and spotted the TN & AN pricing guys having a countery together in the Stork Hotel, the word would immediately go out that there was a fare increase on the way. Passengers, corporates and Agents were all warned.
The prized Macs Chef was enticed to go to the Stork with more money. This happened on more than one occasion with his pay increasing each time as the mob followed him.
The Stork was an early opener for the workers at the Vic Market, but on a hot morning when all the doors were open one could often spy a TN senior exec lubricating himself for the day ahead.
The Stork is sadly dead and gone and has been closed for years as an operational pub. It looked so sad all boarded up. Macs however continues to operate and had been prettied up.
Both were delightfully scungy in the mid 70s as a good Melbourne pub should be!
Best regards
EWL