MONEY FLOWING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 23, 26 December 1942, Page 5

MONEY FLOWING

BRITAIN’S CHRISTMAS. (Special Correspondent.) LONDON, Dec. 24. Money is flowing in Britain for Christmas, 1942. The Bank of England returns show £908,000,000 in circulation this month, compared with £552,000,000 in December, 1939. This is a reflection of the greatly increased number of people employed at improved rates of wages. With strict clothes and food rationing, both of which were formerly the mainstay for Christmas presents, there has been a rush on unrationed goods resulting in some exorbitant prices. There has probably been most comment about turkeys and toys, both of which are in short supply and high-priced. One estimate is that there is a turkey to every 10 families. Toys are expensive, but are still bought up wherever available. Both real and artificial jewellery are proving popular present, despite the 66 per cent, purchase tax. Another popular present is gramophone records. Stocks of cosmetics are short and prices high. Flowers are expensive. Roses, it is reported, are fetching 4s 6d a bloom and chrysanthemums 3s. While beer is easily available, spirits are scarce. Whisky listed at 23s is selling for 355, and white wine costing 4s 6d a bottle is now 275.

In London it is very difficult to obtain hotel accommodation. Many hotels and restaurants will provide a higher number of Christmas meals and no coupons are being asked for food at any restaurants. The Minister of Food (Lord Woolton) is not releasing extra food for Christmas. London's theatres are well booked particularly the pantomimes. It is estimated that London’s theatres will probably net over £IOO,OOO in the week beginning December 24. Travel is being checked and there will be no relief trains and no extras. Hundreds will eat their Christmas dinners in British restaurants in which the for the meal will range between Is anu Is 6d. Though it was expected that few Christmas cards would be bought in view of saving paper, there are a surprising number being exchanged, while many units of tho forces have produced their own cards. There is every indication that Britain will spend a cheerful Christmas, though most homes will make their chief toast “Absent friends.”

CHRISTMAS MESSAGES. According to the Official Wireless the King has sent a Christmas message of good wishes to the officers and men of all ships of the British merchant navy and fishing fleets. 4 i/-Marshal Harris, Chief of the Bomber Ccmmand. in a Christmas message to the command said they had reached another milestone on the steep roa-i to victory, and the gradient was casing, Air Marshal Ixngh-Mallorj, Chief of the’ Fighter Command said bis command, with a rcecril ot some 5000 enemy aircraft cletiroyed, could look forward with confidence. In a Christmas message to the Mid tie East Forces General Alexander said the prospects of a victorious end to the war were far brighter than at anv previous Christmas of the war. Tlic Eighth Army war making a magnificent contribution to that victory. Other messages mentioned are from Air Chief Marshal Tedder, to the Air Force in tho Middle East, and Air Vice-Marshal Conyingham to all formations in the desert air forces. . “The enemv is retreating on all irontj of the battle,” General do Gaulle said in a Christmas Eve broadcast to France. “Ho spreads before our eyes the dence of the beginning of his decay. In a Christmas messago to Norway, King Haakon declared that there could be no doubt that the United . Nations were now standing at the turning point of the war.