CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21975, 26 December 1936, Page 11

CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA

MOST PROSPEROUS SINCE 1930 t LARGE BONUSES AND WAGE INCREASES (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.) (Received December 25, 10.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 24. America is celebrating the most prosperous Christmas since 1930. In many respects trade is even greater than in 1929, because of the difference in the price levels. Retail Christmas trade is estimated' at 10 per cent, in excess of last year's, and purchases of luxuries are unusually widespread. Large New York department stores report a shortage of such items as mink coats. The Post Office Department reports the largest mails in history. Letters from children addressed to Santa Claus are notably reduced in number, Indicating that parents are better able this year to buy gifts. The popularity of holiday travel indicates the extensive bonuses and wage increases, which are expected to exceed 200,000,000 dollars during the season. A notable instance was that of one firm which to-day distributed 50,000 dollars in bonuses to striking employees. The bonus distribution in Wall Street was markedly small, not because the values of stocks have not increased since 1935 —the increase actually being 44.000. dollars to 60,000,000.000 dollars —but brokerage profits are smaller because of the regulation of trading. Every national index has shown sharp improvements. The industrial production index is 110. compared with 87 last Christmas. Five hundred thousand more motor-cars have been produced. Mr Roosevelt lighted a community Christmas tree in the public park at Washington. In a radio address he recalled the results of the Buenos Aires peace conference and paid a tribute to the spirit of Christmas which was an example to the world. He reminded listeners of the immortal story of Scrooge and the Christmas lesson taught him by Tiny Tim. RECORD CROWDS OF SHOPPERS A FINE CHRISTMAS FORECAST IN BRITAIN —— \ (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, December 24. Apart from local fog, fair weather is forecast for the Christmas celebrations. which are on a larger scale than in any recent years, judging by the experiences of shopkeepers and others handling Christmas trade and traffic. In London yesterday between 17.000. and 18,000,000 letters, which is 4,000.000 or 5,000,000 more than on the busiest day last Christmas and eight hundred thousand parcels were handled. Estimates by the Post Office authorities of the number of extra clearances necessary fell far short of the number actually required. While still more clearances were being hastily arranged, many pillar boxes had I o be sealed up and policemen were stationed beside others. Traffic on the railways has been exceptionally heavy. To-day’s rush of passengers necessitated a great increase in the normal train service. London’s greatest shopping rush for years caused such congestion in Oxford street that the traffic was frequently brought to a standstill. The police say that the crowds are the largest they remember. They exceed even those at the jubilee celebrations last year. Similar reports have been received from the provinces. The shopkeepers, though they anticipated good trade, are astonished at the volume of business. They declare that it is by far the best year since 1929. It is estimated that more than £30,000,000 has been spent on gifts during the last week. The tradition of spending Christmas at home seems to be dying with the growth of smaM flats. The mild Sunday weather is encouraging an exodus from the towns. It is expected that 230,000 will leave London from Paddington alone to-day. Euston station is arranging transport for 2,000,000 people between-Friday and Monday. The London County Council is granting special funds to charitable institutions to brighten Christmas for the destitute, and the Salvation Army is holding numerous parties in the slums. “CHRISTMAS OLDER THAN CHRISTIANITY” OPINION OF NAZI JOURNAL (Received December 25, 10.50 p.m.) LONDON, December 23. The Berlin correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that the Storm Troops’ weekly organ demands that the German Christmas should be freed from Jewish influences. It denies any connexion between Christianity and Christmas, which is regarded as older than Christianity. BETHLEHEM CEREMONIES CHRISTIANS ABSENT BECAUSE OF TENSION (Received December 25, 9.15 p.m.) BETHLEHEM, December 24. Because of the tension, Christian minorities in Arab villages decided not to participate in the Christmas ceremonies at Bethlehem.