PEOPLE AND PARCELS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 302, 22 December 1933, Page 3

PEOPLE AND PARCELS.

SHOPPING BOOM AT PEAK. CITY STREETS CROWDED. Nearly every pedestrian in the city streets to-day was laden with parcels. The peak of"the shopping boom of the past two weeks lias been reached, and the shopkeepers' anticipation of a hectic day was realised. The sun shone brightly and in its radiance a festive air was created. Though the morning opened normally the crowd began to swell from ten o'clock, and soon after mid-day there was congestion in streets and shops. With only one day left in which to find something for the Christmas stocking and to furnish the larder with provisions over the holiday period, mothers were faced with a double duty. Expeetant children followed them into the shops, where inevitable congestion followed. Despite increased staffs queues were formed in some shops, both large . and small. The stream of satisfied patrons laden with their purchases jostled against others who had still to fulfil their quest, or those to whom pay day had given a further opportunity to make a delayed purchase. Shops will be open until 10 o'clock to-night and the rush is not expected to cease until closing time. Over the next two days, in a calmer ' nood, the populace will experience the ' joy of giving and receiving presents, and :ho foundation will be laid for fulfil- ( ucnt of the customary good wishes for i Merry Christmas and a Happy New Sfear.