CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

Matamata Record, Volume XIX, Issue 1692, 3 January 1936, Page 5

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

OLD-TIME SPIRIT

Large Increase in Business A more optimistic spirit to that which has appertained during the last few years was noticeable among shoppers during the recent Christmas season in Matamata. Crowds in the main streets were bigger than usual on the whole, but that of Christmas Eve was little if any larger than that of last year. This year, however, the weather affected Christmas business to some extent. A very late spring was followed by fine warm weather in December, and in consequence haymaking, which had been delayed somewhat, became very intensive throughout the district late in December. A few days before Christmas heavyshowers of rain held up operations, with the result that very many farmers took advantage of this spell to do their Christmas business. The week before Christmas was a busy one in the town, and although Christmas Eve fulfilled expectations, it was not quite as busy as it might have been. Indeed many farmers worked throughout the holidays in the hay-fields. The great majority of shopkeepers report increased business and especially a disposition to buy higherpriced articles. Individual sales in figures which had not been within the reach of purses for years were frequent and these were made with little preliminary bargaining. While there was no noticeable disposition to purchase what might be termed luxury articles, £3 to £5 sales, which had been absent of recent years, were fairly common. It was in the general atmosphere of this annual business season, however, that the most noticeable difference was apparent. There was, compared with latter years, a freedom of purchase which bordered on mild abandon in evidence, yet nowhere was there found to be anything approaching reckless expenditure. It was more as if by common agreement the hardships of the past were buried and a mutual belief engend-. ered that the improved times had come to stay. This spirit pervaded ail and with the extra pptsjiahing power available as a result of higher prices for dairy produce and wool, thb 1935 Christmas season was dne of the best in Matamata from a business point of view for years.