TIPPING HABIT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22486, 22 January 1943, Page 6

TIPPING HABIT

American Servicemen

A typically overseas custom that has been only slightly developed in New Zealand, that of tipping, has been given a distinct impetus by visiting American servicemen since their arrival, says the “New Zealand Herald.” Auckland. A survey in the city showed that the Americans have carried the tipping habit in some cases to extremes of generosity, apparently knowing but ignoring the unwritten rule that a tip should be 10 per cent of the bill. Discussing the habit, a tobacconist with a large barbering saloon attached to his shop said that all the Americans he had come in contact with gave tips, and in the most liberal lashion. While his barbers had received occasional tips from their regular customers, with perhaps occasional larger gifts at Christmas, the high cost of living and high standard of wages on the workers’ side combined to make most New Zealanders distinctly sparing.

“Nine out of 10 Americans do it and the man who does not has not got it,” he summed up. The habit was not as might be expected, confined to the higher paid ranks, but was general. Another man said he had even known some of the Americans make a special trip back to the saloon after getting change to hand the barber a tip. Sixpence or a shilling was most commonly given, but half-crowns or florins were not rare and one man had even been given ten shillings. Failing money they would give their own cigarettes or cigars. The habit seemed as fixed as their unfailing- good manner and courtesy.

A grill room manageress recounted similar experiences and said she had had the utmost difficulty in persuading the Americans not to tip the waitresses. They were apparently unwilling to understand that the habit might have an effect on the service given to other, less generous patrons. A waitress said that she personally did not wish to be tipped, but had often accepted American coins as souvenirs rather than offend the visitors. They were genuinely offended when a tip was refused and expressed astonishment when it was explained that to some New Zealand girls the offer of anything extra was an insult.

The women tram conductors seemed to have appealed to the American fancy, and one case quoted was of a girl who had constantly to refuse the offer of the change from a fare. Others who had benefited to a greater or less extent from the visitors’ openhandedness were taximen. hotel porters and waitresses, while barmen averred with almost one voice that the Americans were a menace so far as “shouting” was concerned. As one man said. "They may act differently and talk differently, but they are the most generous crowd I have met anywhere.”