Lack Of Tipping In N.Z. Impresses Vic Oliver

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29798, 14 April 1962, Page 10

Lack Of Tipping In N.Z. Impresses Vic Oliver

The first day the comedian. Vic Oliver, was in Auckland he made what he considers was a serious mistake. He offered a taxi-driver a tip “Never on your life." was tne drivers reaction

Mr Oliver used the incident to illustrate in an interview in Christchurch yesterday one of things he has found to admire in New Zealand, the absence of tipping.

He said he had found many wonderful thines in this country The people had a fantastic sense of honesty Motorists travelled at 30 miles an hour when they shou’d do so Members of the pub--1 c obeyed such signs as “No Smoking ” But. most of all, “vou can leave a £5 note in roar theatre dressing room or hotel room and it will still be there when you return ”

“In the theatre in WeiIr.gton I left a gold cigarette case, a considerab'e sum of money and a violin worh £5OO They were all still there tn th- morning I have great respect for a thing like that.” said Mr Oliver “Degrading” System

“Another wonderful thine here is the no-tipo-.ng system Tipping is a degrading sv«tem In some parts of tbe world it is so bad that vov cannot walk into a h-ve’ without -eeing someone with hand outstretched" he said On the debit side he has found that hotel accommodation in New Zealand is no* yet on a par wi*n European o’ American or Indian standards

“In the North Island you still have some very bad grave! roads I drive around ouite a bit and I have beer on mads that, to sav the lease, are not adequate for a counter like New Zealand.” he said

“So far. the audiences at our diow have been abso. lately wonderful.” said Mr Oliver “Never since I have been in show business have I had such a response It has been the same in every town and we’ve plaved in eight r’aces in the North Island Whether it is because we’re so good or whether they d" not see much of this type of sbo— the audiences lap it up “The theatres we have piayed in have been very

good An actor really does not mind where he plays so long as tne audiences come in and enjoy the show, I have played in some dumps, and I’m still alive.” Mr Oliver said that television had killed the variety show completely in Britain Out of 472 variety theatres, only three were left, because they had not been able to compete with television Another reason for theatres closing was that property) values had increased to such an extent that it had been found a better proposition to sell them for the interest on the price obtained was more than could be earned from them as theatres.