NO MORE TIPS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1915, Page 2

NO MORE TIPS.

AWARD COVERING STEAMERS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. 'Wellington, July 2. Tlie Arbitration Court lias taken an important step in the direction of abolishing tipping, as indicated 'in the award between the Cooks and Stewards' Union and the Union Company. In a memorandum attached to the award, Mr. Justice Stringer states that the present rate of wages for stewards is for firstclass stewards £5 10.s per month, and for second-class stewards £4, with hoard and lodging provided. No one could doubt these are considerably below a reasonable standard of living wages, ae-. cording to the standard usually accepted; but it is urged tbat tips must be taken into consideration, and that adding the average amount received by stewards in the shape of tips the wage's are brought up to a fair standard. The union has made an earnest appeal to the court to disregard tips in fixing the minimum wages for stewards. The court sympathises with the aspiration? of the union in this direction, and t!iink : - it desirable to abolish the system of tipping as far as possible. Proceeding, the memorandum states that the system is objectionable and operates unfairly. If, as mayi be the case, the extra cost to the company involved in the increases of wages granted by the court is collected from the travel-. ling public in the shape of increased fares, this will at least have the merit of making all passengers contribute equally to making up the wages of stewards to a reasonable standard, instead of, as now, leaving it to those only who are disposed to be liberal. At the suggestion of the Stewards'; Union representative the court will make it a breach of the award to accept a. tip from a passenger. The new rate of wages grants first-class stewards a wage of £S a month, and second-class stewards £O. ———___ \