CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 51, 24 November 1941, Page 6

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Displays In Wellington Shops EARLY BUYING URGED With Christmas barely a month away, the thoughts of many people are beginning to turn toward Christmas presents for their friends and loved ones. Many Wellington shops are already making displays of Christmas goods and notices advise customers to shop early and thus secure the best selection. The lay-by system is also being used by many people who have gifts put away for them several weeks and even months before Christmas. The posting of gifts for soldiers overseas has in most cases been completed some weks ago, to ensure the parcels arriving in plenty of time for Christmas. A reminder is issued that where it is intended to remit money as a Christmas gift to members of the armed forces overseas, bank receipts must be forwarded to the Army, Navy, or Air Departments by today, to mfike reasonably sure that the money will reach its destination in time.

Though every household is feeling to a greater or' less extent the effects of rising prices, the habit of presentgiving at Christmas is so deeply rooted in the minds of the people that, though the gifts given may be less expensive in. timps of depression or when funds run low, the custom is never likely to fall into complete disuse. Dear vegetables, dear fruit, and other necessities, may make the housewife wonder how the domestic budget is to be balanced, but with a little contriving she will man-; age to provide those little extras for the table—nuts, raisins, paper bonbons —which have come to be accepted as an integral part of the festive season.

It is quite probable that in not a! few homes the fiat has already gone forth: “No Christmas presents this year,” but the stern resolve usually breaks down before Christmas actually arrives and the old custom still survives. The older people may determine to send each other only greeting cards or telegrams, or some small re-; membrance such as a handkerchief or other light and easily-postable article; but it takes a harder heart than most; parents possess to deprive the children of their Christmas or even greatly to curtail it. With memories of how the I expectation of the coming of Santa Claus brightened their own childhood days at Christmas, parents would rather forego some little extra for themselves than have the day fall below expectations for their children. That is why many people are making early purchases of toys for Christmas —toys, incidentally, made entirely in the Dominion and in most cases constructed of wood instead of metal. Wellington shops are full of attractive soft toys and gaily-painted wooden playthings which will delight many a youthful heart, so - that the absence of metal trains and mechanical models of a like nature will hardly be noticed. The locally-made metal toys, made of pressed steel, compare very favourably' with those formerly imported. All the shops are carrying stocks of attractively-dressed dolls which are bound to appeal to the latent maternal instinct of every little girl. Prices do not appear to have greatly increased for toys, the greatest rises varying from 10 to 15 per cent., but many of the toys are the same price, a few being actually cheaper.