China Abolishes Tips by Decree

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 29, 18 February 1937, Page 14

China Abolishes Tips by Decree

SHANGHAI. — As in Soviet Bussia, so in Nationalist China, tips are now eliminated by government fiat. After deep consideration, Nanking set September 15 as the deadline date for tipping in Shanghai. Regulations ' accordingly were sent out tp all business establishments, and Euggestions wero requested as preliminary to the great moment when tips were to be no more. .Among the houses affected are res* taurauts, bath houses and similar places where tips have "been the literal lifeblood of the employees, though it is provided that there may be a 1 per cent extra fee in the bills. In Harbin and elsewhere it has been customary to charge 10 per cent. extra — with tips usually expected on top of that. Punishment is supposed to be administered to employees who fail to reject any tips offered, while public functionaries caught" offering tips are to be punished sdiffilarly. Co-operation is expected from the Shanghai Municipal Council, the Chinese Batepayers/ Assoeiation and the City Chamber-- of Commerce. Tipping is carried on in China by a wide variety "of . means. On arrival at a big dinner one;s transport becomes the object of a tip in the way of "chow money" if one is in a really Chiliese city such as Peiping — 20 cents to a rieksha puller, 50 cents to the driver of a carriage, a dollar to a motor-car driver. Almost every personal service means a tip and so dependent are thousands of people on tips that it seems impossible the practice cansbe uprooted, especially as the tip conferer gains "face" by his action.