RECORD CHRISTMAS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 73, 19 December 1939, Page 8

RECORD CHRISTMAS

Wellington Prospects For

Business

RETAIL SHOPS VERY BUSY

The Christinas shopping rush began in Wellington yesterday morning when there were as many people in city and suburban shops as on a busy Friday night. The weather was ideal and brought the shoppers into town early. It was not a question of shops waiting for the afternoon for customers to make an appearance; they were there almost from opening time. One big departmental store estimated that yesterday 20,000 visited its main shop, and the manager considers that by the end of the week there will have been GO, 000. Not all these are 'buyers by anj means, for shops in the Christmas season are magnets for those who, having little or no shopping to do, get. more pleasure out of the busy scenes than those who are buffeted about in the press and have to make a choice while others wait impatiently for the services of the assistant, and who, with managing parcels and often small families complete with pushchairs, have a really tiring time. While the weather was ideal it was also bard on people who felt the heat more as they were jostled on the packed footpaths and in shops. Tearooms did a wonderful business, and smaller places serving ice creams and soft drinks were thronged throughout the day by those who had no time in their shopping bustle to spare for a solid meal. Inquiries made from all types ot businesses disclosed no indication that the war was affecting the volume of Christmas buying. One large departmental store which opened in Wellington 10 years ago, said that so far this was the best Christmas experienced. The rush is likely to make a serious inroad on existing stocks and it is anticipated that many lines will be cleaned out 'by the end of the week. War Influence. Where the war influence is making itself felt is in the toy departments, where boys are making a great demand on martial toys—soldiers, guns and tanks, aeroplanes, anti-aircraft guns and searchlights, and all the other toyland replicas of fighting equipment. From an inspection made of this type of toy it appears that there is no arm being employed in the present war which has not been copied by the toymakers. It was pointed out by one manager that he could have done with many more temporary hands than were available. The Exhibition had taken girls who might otherwise have been disengaged. Everywhere there is evidence of free spending and irrespective of what lies ahead next year with stock shortages, it appears that the public is determined to make this a record Christmas for business. '