THE TIPPING SYSTEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23045, 23 November 1936, Page 8

THE TIPPING SYSTEM

The Liberal-Nationalist member who has introduced a Bill in the House of Commons providing for the abolition of tipping is said to have the backing of all parties. It may well be so, for the system of tipping can surely have few ardent defenders in any walk of life among those who are expected to practise it. The extent to which the system obtains in New Zealand is as yet comparatively small, though it is creeping in to an increasing degree. In the Old Country, however, the system veritably permeates the life of the community, and represents an established national custom, the abolition of which will certainly be difficult. That it is a bad custom, indeed an evil, cannot be seriously disputed. It lends itself to abuse, and uplifts neither him that gives nor him that takes. To a considerable degree the tip is an incalculable and exasperating factor. It establishes an unfortunate relationship between the parties concerned. When the tip is grudgingly given, and received with arched eyebrows, if with no other sign of demur, the atmosphere is beclouded. Most of all people prefer to pay for services, as they pay for commodities, an exact price, and upon that they like.to be able to calculate. In Great Britain they are met at every turn by the necessity of considering that unwritten, indefinite extra charge, or gratuity, as it is euphemistically termed, involved in the tip. To the visitor from countries in which the tipping system is not obtrusive this may not infrequently present a puzzling and somewhat exasperating problem. The average individual is, of course, at a sad disadvantage as compared with the wealthy man who may find satisfaction in making his progress easy and comfortable with lavish and ostentatious gratuities to those who minister to his wants. By the vast majority of people the system must be regarded as at best a nuisance, something merely to be endured if it cannot be cured. One of the difficulties in the way of its abolition consists in the extent to which tips may constitute the living of a very large number of persons. The ramifications of the system are such that probably the entire abolition of it is out of the question. But whichever party is considered it is obviously preferable that an employee should receive an adequate remuneration for his services and be independent of gratuities. The Bill introduced in the House of Commons would make it an offence for a waiter to accept or solicit a gratuity, or for a customer to offer one. By way of compensation to hotel and other proprietors, who would naturally have various representations to advance respecting the effect of the abolition of tipping, it is apparently proposed that they should be empowered to fix for services an additional charge of which the proceeds would be distributed among their staffs. That is the plan adopted in some parts of the Continent, the addition to the bill in France, as tourists are aware, being ten per cent. It will be of interest to see what comes of this private anti-tipping Bill in the Commons.' The verdict of the visitor to Great Britain, could he awake some morning to find the tipping system abolished—so far as legislative enactment might produce that result —would surely be "For this relief much thanks."