CHRISTMAS IN HAWERA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 23 December 1913, Page 8

CHRISTMAS IN HAWERA.

TRADE CONDITIONS

This morning,- a Hawera Star reporter made enquiries of shopkeepers and business people as s to the prospects of Christmas trade, and as to trade generally during the year now. drawing to a close. All those approached, were almost of the one opinion, that the year had been a fairly good one, and that had^it not been for the unfortunate industrial troubles and the tinseasonable weather lately experienced, 1913* would "have been the best year in Hawera's history. . Shopkeepers, how-r ever, complain that the past i week had been rather quiet, although they adr mitted. a steady business had been, done; but there had not been the same cask-trade about as in former festive seasons, owing to a tightness in the money market. In consequence of xhe strike, grocers have not been able to do much in the' way of selling Christmas fruits, these being held up in the Australian ports. However, if they had been released last week, the fruits could not have arrived- in- NewZealand in time for the Christmas trade. Muscatels, nuts, almonds" and ether dried fruits are practically unobtainable. In this particular line, therefore, grdcers ~will suffer, but otherwise/they consider trade will be good. Some;of the drapers and ; clothiers, when seen, said, they vhad:<had a very fair year, and were hopeful ; of doing something to-day and f o-tn^rrow, while others again,complained that business Was not too good. However, all who i were interviewed stated that, with fine j weather on Christmas Eve, they expected to see a rush of business, and j that, later, it would be found that their takings' would be ahead ~of those ■of last .year. Indeed, one or two quietly j admitted that at the present their' business returns were better than they had been, for the, corresponding ; time last year. One.tradesman gave it as his opinion that more people were leaving the town this year, the Auckland Exhibition being t;he strong attraction, and consequently a good deal of the Christmas shopping would be done outside of Hawera, arid be lost to local tradesmen.

Speaking generally, a fairly cheerful outlook prevails; and it is felt that the town is still on a solid foundation, and, with the magnificent dairying country surrounding it, there is every reason to believe "that Hawera would continue to rank as one of the best business centres, in the .Dominion.