CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17041, 24 December 1918, Page 8

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.

RECORD BUSINESS LIKELY.

FRUIT, PRODUCE AND POULTRY.

This Christmas promises to establish a record for the local retail chops, judging by the almost phenomenal business which has been done at these establishments during the past week. All retail establishments suffered heavily during November, owing to the epidemic, and in order to prevent undue congestion at the Christmas season, customers were asked to do their shopping early. The result of this request was that Christ shopping commenced nearly three weeks ago. Thoro has been a steady volume of business ever since, indicating that the loss in trade has been overtaken. This, however, has caused a falling-oil in actual Christmasshopping. Yesterday retail shops of all descriptions were crowded with eager purchasers, and many shopkoepers stated that the trade would compare more than favour, ably with that of even pre-war Christinas seasons. They wcro of the opinion that should the same pressure of business bo experienced to-day, a Christmas shopping record for Auckland would be established.

Supplies of Strawberries. While there is at present the usual Christmas demand for fruit and produce, tho supply is so much short of requirements that fairly high wholesale prices ate ruling. This is partly due to tho dearth of imported fruits, such as oranges, bananas, pineapples, and Canadian apples, due to the dislocation of shipping occasioned bv the recent epidemic. Shipments of bananas and Canadian apples aro expects shortly after the New Year, •when local fruit, which is now generally in short supply, will be more plentiful. 'I he only local fruit of good quality coming to the city markets in large quanltitin aro strawberries. Most of this is ex--1 ceptionally good fruit, and good prices aro 'being obtained. The prices during lart few davs have rangod from Is Id to 2s per chip, the latter figure having been realised yesterday. Good supplies with a corresponding demand aro _ expected today. From present indications i'c is an-' ticipated that the strawberry season will last for about three weeks after Christmas. Very few local apples arc reaching tlia markets, and these, while not of good quality, aro fetching high prices. Tho market is depending on the Thames I orchards for apricots; and this fruit, alI though early, and on the green side, is selling at from 8d to 10d per pound wholesale. Peaches are also hort, and of mediocre quality. Cherry plums, however, are now plentiful, ana soiling at from 4s to 6s per 181b case, which is lower than the price ruling two or threo days ago Dark plums are selling at from 7s to 9s per case. Australian cherries are usually in good supply at this time of the year, * but are at present not on tho market. Local cherries aro being sold at Is 6d per pound. Waikato gooseberries are realising 4d per' pound, and hothouse grapes Is lOd to 2s 3d per pound, according to quality. Hothouse tomatoes are not plentiful, and aro consequently fetching from lOd to' Is 3d per pound. Local wholesa'|] fruit merchants expressed the hopo yesterday that the Manuka would get away from Sydney I within the next few days, in which case t a quantity of Australian fruit will be j available about New Year.

Prices of Vegetables. Green peas are dear just now, a fact which is attributable partly to the recent ! dry weather, and arc being sold wholesale ,at Is 6d per peck. " New potatoes, on the , other hand, are slightly lower in price, the present rate being Ills to 14s per cwt. There is a very moderate supply of hothouse cucumbers, which are selling at ; from 63 to 10s per dozen. Beans are sell--1 ing at about 4a per lb, and local onions, which are now coming in more plentifully, I at Id to lid per lb. I The wholesale merchants report a shortago of root crops, for whi."h they are at 1 some loss to account, carrots and turnips having commanded substantial prices durI ine the last three weeks. I J Wholesale prices for poultry are about] , the same as those realised during the tost ' Christmas season, although this year's : supply is much better. The demand , would appear to bo just as heavy, one ; wholesale firm having sold about £600 i worth during tho last eight days, the sales on Fridav last having reached about 400 C I head. Turkeys have been selling at from 15s to 255" each, roosters 2s 6d to 7s, 1 geeso 6s 6d to 7s, and ducks and hens 2s ; 6d to 4s 6d. I The trawling companies stMe that the ' Christmas season does not appreciably affect the demand, for fish, although the i catches at present being obtained are suffi- ' ciently large to ensure ample supplies for i the local market.