BUSINESS AND CARNIVALS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 107, 2 November 1933, Page 10

BUSINESS AND CARNIVALS

(To the Editor.) Sir, —We are approaching the time of the Confidence Carnival week. What is it likely to do in the direction of stimulating Christinas trade? is a question that many shopkeepers are asking; The period of Christmas and New Year trade means so very much to the retail traders of the city that they are naturally nervous about any movement that may draw money off which would'otherwise be spent in the shops. A carnival of buying and eetling horn now on till Christmas would do good in stimulating business and crcat-. ing moio general confidence. Shopkeepers for years have been about the first to be approached for- subscriptions; thereiore, they should have full consideration whfcti the struggle is so hard as it has been for most of them. I cm say that in conversations with retailers I find tholn all in full sympathy with the object of augmenting the Mayor's Fund. They are only anxious that the plans of' carnival shall not at any poiut obstruct business. One tells me that on four successive Friday nights balls are being held in the Town Hall, and I think of how street.collections on Fridays were stopped. The' assurance given by the Mayor that agreement is arrived at with the retailers which will obviate any possible conflict of interests leaves me, and other citizens, still in doubt as to the course of action contemplated. Is there to be some special effort, by publicity and otherwise, to assist general buying during part of the carnival week? The presentation of definite plans which will give due weight to the interests' of shopkeepers' with respect to Christmas' trade would, I feel sure, give more general confidence in the Confidence Week campaign. There, is a line of action which I respectfully suggest • might be taken by the' Mayor and the carnival committee with ,all round.,. The first

is to positively assure the retailers that the week\ ctinnal will not for any leason be j extended beyond the dates ahcady published The other dnection is in the ofiiual piutsiamme to arrange times ior •shopping I know tlut the curicnt idea l- that evcij moment of "Tho Week" will be taken uj> with tittiactions. If that lcsuks in the uouds being left with ncithei' time nor money for shopping I think general confidence will" suffer by retail ti.ule being depressed.—l am, etc., JOHN BULL.