FESTIVE SEASON

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 10261, 3 December 1926, Page 3

FESTIVE SEASON

PROSPECTS OF XMAS TRADE

LAST MINUTE RUSh’aNTI-

CURATED

Although there fias been a slackness in business in town for some weeks past, businessmen arc optimistic that-there will be . a marked revival in trade a few days before Christina’s. The public purchasing power so far as country,people . are concerned is no doubt restricted to some extent by the reduction of 25 per cent, in prices for , butterfat, compared with last year’s prices, and shearing has been held up in many instances through the wet weather, which have tended to limit expenditure so far. However, the shopkeepers are hoping for the “good time that’s coming” Business houses generally are packed with goods for the festive season, and prices compare favorably with previous years, showing if anything, a slight advantage in favor of t!i-: purchaser. It is thought that townspeople are holding off as is usual at this time of the year, and w-ill boom trade within a few days of Christmas when it is practically certain there will be a rush of customers.

Toys of all descriptions are displayed in abundance this year, the majority of which are coining from the home of the toymaking industry, Germany. British toys are .comparatively small in numbers, though the prices arc not much higher than the German articles, which though produced at a much lesser cost, thanks to the high tariff wall imposed on the goods, are only slightly lower than the British product. Germany, however, lias shown great ingenuity in the manufacture of different types of toys, “'and it is apparent, despite the tariff embargo, that she is rapidly regaining her lost markets.

Whilst the coal hold-up at Home* has not affected Britain in the toymanufacturing industry in which she has never .been a big competitor it has materially affected her glassware and pottery export trade, and the bulk of the glassware is coining from Belgium and Austria, while Czechoslovakia has come to the forefront with the crockery and potteries productions. The British pottery and glassworks have just recently reopened but “unfortunately the goods will arrive too late fox - the Christmas market in New Zealand. In these lines there is a slight reduction on the prices of. last year.

The booksellers are perhaps the most fortunate in regard to- the prices in that hooks which could not lie sold under 6s and 7s last year are now to he offered at 3s to 4s owing .to tllie great reduction in the cost of production. Many of the popular annuals which are always acceptable gifts have also been substantially reduced in price. and in some cases increased in size.

The jewellers also a.gCcipate good business in the boom that assuredly must percede Christmas hut mainly in lines that are useful in the home in preference to ornamental articles. Many lines of jewellery have hecn substantially reduced compared with the pi-ices ruling during the festive season last year.