CHRISTMAS TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1939, 23 December 1913, Page 9

CHRISTMAS TRADE.

WEATHER MEANS EVERYTHING

The weather is to be tie determining factor in tho, Christmas trade. Given fine days and nights . till. Christmas, there is 110 reason why this year's festive season slipuld not 6how as good a return to- tho retail shopkeepers as Was shown last year.

The above view was expressed to a reporter yesterday morning by the manager of 0110 of Wellington's largest retail shops. • "How's the Christinas trade? 5 ' ho was asked.

"Christmas trade.!" c-am-e the surprised ejaculation. ".Why- we haven't" had any yet."

His riest remark, however, cast a different aspect 011 tho matter. "It's the last three days that will toll," he continued, "and if they are fine there is no reason why we.shouldn't do as well aa wo did last year, when.wo had a substantial record." ■

According to those qualified to .speak on the- subject, more trade is done during tiio three days before Christmas than during tho preceding three weeks. If the throe days are wet, the trade is geno. for, Christmas over, tho idea to spend is more easily, resisted. LastChristmas Eve, it may bo remembered, was fine —till about ii.liO, when heavy rain camo down.. But, before tho hour named most of tlio spending had been done, and shopkeepers were well satisfied with the.'result. After-jain commenced very little was done. That was in Wellington. In Auckland affairs were different. Tho rain there started two hours earlier, and tho result war that tho Christmas, returns fell away below the average/ ■ '.- The same informant ' considered that ■Wellington firms were not .likely to bo affected to any.great extent by tho recent strike.' During the lirst two weeks 1 trade had fallen -rapidly, away, but then gradually regained ..normal,, and Christmas'buying was likely to he as brisk as ever." The Arbitratiomsts had lieen earning good:money: during tlie .strike period,■ -and an .immense amount. ... of money': had.; been spout in keeping 'tho' port open.'"-'This was practically all put into'circulation -inHhe'eity. ' Whije the city trad? 'might not. bo 'affected, tho coiintry- traders, might , have a-'different tale to tcli. . t ■ Whilo, the" above describes Hho conditions as -tliey exist" with regard to the bic retail ..firms, • the-general• consensus of. opinion ■ amongst tlie. smaller shopkeepers was. that they.-were'in for a quiet time... The..strike ' had 1 certainly '•affected ihenv.vmoro particularly , thoso in the vicinity, of Cuba Street. With the wet weather on tnn of thi'i:;s \VOiO very. rpiiet, nnd the..or.ly.Tay of hope v.'a'i the nro-pcct of jraiiv keeping off till -after the holiday season.