CHRISTMAS LARDER.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 303, 21 December 1921, Page 13

CHRISTMAS LARDER.

rH g HOUSEWIFE'S PROBLEM. HOW TO KEEP FOOD FRESH. I «HOP> I-OXn VACATION. SrirTTEi:- VP FOR : 'i DAYS. In 'another -l«v or two many men and women will Ik- ruling round with long li*t of riiristmiw shopping, a ruffled temp.r and a heart feeling anykMrf hut in iini*on with the spirit of Season. It "11 coiuM of that habit jfftoerastination «hioh attacks us all . *- M of tlu- annual Im*oiir we get hen singling tliroiigh hot, and anl myed crusiuv. Tlio people behind the counter would also probably it end a happier fhristmas if people did not leave everything to Ihristmaa Eve. It let bad pnougli ;it any time choosing the..Chri.'tma* prosonu. and it soeme very much like iml-ei-ility to try and go throuel) the nnleiil in a football crowd ffheq by v little fnrotliought one could make the of a bad business and shop in pw p :in,l 'l""' tnc,f;; - Women lemg more eympathctie lire better than inen°at 2et tin i- r through the Christmas present list, and in fact many of them ratlier enjoy the faj of making out the itinerary and then t ramping grimly through endless shop* to carry it into effect" A woman know? intuitively what her relation? or her friends would like, and providing tho head of the family fupplies her with tile necessary roll of notes .-ho <iin extrai't quite a lot of fun and pleasure out of Christmaihreek. It i> the bread-winner himself who pa-ses through -uoh an agonising time when he, either from choice or compulsion, has to give the annual outward and visible proof of his alleged goodwill towards nephews, nieces, godsons, and god-dauphfcers, and others he wants to (or should) remember. In his own family hi? better half, knowing the limitation of man in such matter?, takes jrood care thai,he does not have a finger in the selection of family gifts: she looks to that herself. .. MIXD YOL'R POCKETS. Apart from the convenience to oneself, it would 1)0 just as well to consider the .shop assij-tarrtp in this matter of shopping early. If the ordinary shopper 'has; ; his or her feathers ruttled as a jrcsult of the Christmas Eve "scrum," , what must be the condition of the folk behind the counter after about ten liours of advising peo-plc who haven't tile jeniotest idea of what they want, andjiaw over half the shop before they come to a decision. Another incentive to gettinjr in early before the rush is the pre-ser.cc of pickpockets in the town. in past years we Lave been free from this pest of the growing city, but this Christmas the slim-fingered fraternity has come along in iorce. It is probable that the reason for this nnlooked for honour is to be found in the fact that Auckland. (thinks to the dairying) is more flush of money than the rest of the Dominion at the present time. Anyhow the pickpoclrats have arrived, so it would, be jus£ as well to shop early in selfdefence. - TWO CHRISTMAS DAYS. Ifouseirives will have to make their rro*fsionfii2 arrangements several days a'bettd this Christmas, owing- to two facthe first being that" the holiday fall? at the week end. and the second beiiig that there will be an extra holiiv the intention of Parliament to turn Monday- into Christmas Day- for holiday purposes under the A«t& which govern these matters. Shop assistants will therefore have their usual two. days clear holiday, in addition to the, Sunday. But this means prolonging the holidays, ana as the meat and provision shops are closing on Saturday at' mid-day. the domestic quartermaster will ''have to ration the household ahead for three days and a half. It also means that Friday will be Christmas Eve as far -as shopping is concerned. Shoppers should make a point of remembering this, but the chances are ten toone thut lots of them will forget all about it, and Hnd themselves on. Saturday minus all sorts of things they fully intended to get; nil sorts ot things they wanted,' and won't be able to buy until the following Wednesday. AWKWARD BUT INEVITABLE. This arrangement of bringing Christmas Eve one day forward is relished neither by the public nor the shopkeepers, but it will be a great boon to the shop assistants. Though it will be very inconvenient for housewives a little forethought will enable them to tide over the shopless period, and things might really huve been worse. •Auckland grocers are closing on 'Saturday next a t 1 p.m., and will remain ''losed until 8.1") a.m. on Wednesday, December 28, Friday will be the- 'late night," the shops remaining open on that day until ID p.m. Butchers shop- will also observe tho same holidays, with tho exception tiiat they put up tho shutters at noon on Saturday instead of 1 p.m. It is the tresl, moat problem that is giving the iousewife most concern. ;?he is wondering what .she is- going to do for Mon«av and Tuesday. Christmas weather ■s,fatal to the chances or keeping fresh meat in the house, and Auckland is feculi;;;- in the fact that the number of «-p chests to be found in private houses « smaller than for any town of a size in ,-i similar climate—at J east that is the verdict of people who "fcould know. BfLLY BEEK MEALS. ;Hiicn the picture of the worried iiouscWl!e t'yi'ig to get someone to tiurv the »teak that would not keep, was drawn tor t! u edification of one of t tie heads of a J)ig butchering business, he *aid the lvasn ' £ r,,a11 .v sericua as soire peop •_. p.ado out. Tiie amount of meat 6wa during the day or so following anstnias wag comparatively small. A good many inquiries huve been made »s to the rights of shopkeepers to keep nL 6n 5" Satllrda '' night—the refil ( hrists '- y e. v\ here there are no awards or requisitions to the contrary, shops (hat e°m? under t.h.j Shops and Offices Act ran keep 0p,.,, late 011 e j t h er Saturday or rnciay night, so'long as Hirv ohporo Mc ualf-holidar during the week. No sfcpp, ho«-e%-er, can keep open on both nights, riiere i< some doul.i. a« to the aAct wording of the legislation that is now before the House of Parliament gaKing Monday next the lesal Christmas Rn iy i£ Or holiday purposes. Probably 'fr^?r n -n- deflnite will fc >rthcomin? irom Wellington within the next day or cO, In thn moantimp the main to ronzombor are: Look out for pickpoeknta inrrmvds: shop early to avoid the "OWls: remember lhat Friday ni-rht ie Practically Chri.-imaa Eve; 'remember Urn tho grocers and butchers close from ■-aturday mid-day until the follovira Wednesday. ' rt