CROWDED CITY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 304, 24 December 1941, Page 8

CROWDED CITY

CHRISTMAS RUSH

LAST-MINUTE SHOPPERS

Although perhaps some of the customary carefree Christmas Eve spirit was lacking, crowds of shoppers who swarmed through city stores to-day showed by their attitude that although war may loom close Christmas must still be observed in traditional fashion—or as nearly so as possible.

The last-minute rush was as frenzied as ever, although the decision to allow shops to remain open to-night obviously had the effect of influencing people who originally had intended to do their shopping earlier in the day to leave it until later, when maybe the working members of the family could assist—even if only by carrying the parcels home.

Progress was difficult through most of the large stores morning and gradually became more so as lunch hour crowds and afternoon shoppers swelled the throng. The crush in Queen Street became more intensified as the afternoon wore on and proprietors of shops are confidently expecting a boom period this evening.

Feature of the shopping has been the falling off of fancy lines. "People are buying more serviceable presents this year," said one salesman, "articles that can be worn or used and not blown up and thrown aside in a couple of days." His opinion was endorsed by many others.

Presents for soldiers overseas, of course, were bought weeks ago and these naturally were also chosen with an eye to utility.

A factor which has contributed to the last-minute burst of energy on the part of shoppers has been the travel ban. Many families who had expected to be nundreds of miles away to-day have now found that they must of necessity spend Christmas at home—calling for a general restocking of the family laraer and the laying in of traditional Christmas cheer.

A happy thought is that for the children tne season is as joyous and thrilling as ever. There are still crackers to pull, Christmas puddings to gorge upon, innumerable and somewnat bewildering Santa Clauses in town to produce toys and take a kindly interest in all infant wishes —not forgetting the particularly mysterious type who arrive some time during tne night to cause empty stockings to bulge attractively in the early morning light — Christmas trees, parties and fun galore.

And to their, elders who can still join in the merry-making—and there are few who cannot confess to a shamefaced thrill at the thought of playing Santa Claus—the season cannot be an empty one in the face of such goings-on. There may be something wrong with the * world, but there's nothing the matter with Christmas.