CHRISTMAS TOYS
Military Playthings Popular
STILL WIDE VARIETY Though old favourites, dolls, teddy bears, trains and aeroplanes are still maintaining their popularity with children, a larger percentage of military equipment is to be seen in the toy shops in Wellington this year. Tin hate, rifles, machine-guns, tanks, bombing aeroplanes, heavy artillery, and the ever-popular toy soldier have 'been keenly sought after by children. Though it was feared that there would be a shortage of toys this Christmas, there is a wide range of choice in most shops. Foreign stocks, which formerly comprised 50 per cent, in some cases, are very much smaller, and the manager of one big firm said that at present he was carrying only 20 per cent, foreign goods. Some firms which received stocks from overseas late last Christmas have carried these over for this year, and this has assisted to maintain the variety. It is not expected that there will be any carry-over for next Christmas, and it is possible that the selection of toys • available then will not be so good. A feature of the displays in shops is the New Zealand toys. Wooden articles, prams and teddy bears are among the main items manufactured in New Zealand. The teddy bears, in particular, are extremely well made and their price compares favourably with that of imported articles. Shops are stocking a wide range of military toys, and many of them are very ingenious. An anti-aircraft gun, mounted, on a camouflaged lorry, attracted the attention of many small boys in one shop yesterday. Another popular toy was a camouflaged aerodrome, complete with aeroplanes and anti-aircraft guns.
Boys who wish to construct models themselves are well catered for, and among the most popular of this type of toy is the model aeroplane. Kit sets, with the models in all stages of construction, are available. The influence of the talkies is still in evidence. Pop-Eye the Sailor, Snow White and the iSeven Dwarfs, Mickey Mouse and many other favourite screen stars of children are to be seen in many different shapes.
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Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 68, 13 December 1939, Page 8
Word Count
343CHRISTMAS TOYS Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 68, 13 December 1939, Page 8
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