FLEET WEEK BUSINESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18713, 20 May 1924, Page 9

FLEET WEEK BUSINESS.

WELCOME STIMULUS GIVEN* MANY; COUNTRY VISITORS. TEAM AND BAIL TRAFFIC.

. The Business community in Auckland, and more especially the retail section, 'is rejoicing in the stimulus business received during Fleet Week; -i This, in some cases, makes up ; for the ; slackness' at > Easter induced/.:' by the railway; strike and the uncertainty that preceded it. ': & >>■■ other cases it is conceded that, if Ml com* pensation were not ? received, lat least the extra .business was very- considerable, /.'{'Not }:;l much business' 1 "was directly attributable, to the squadron. There, was a certain amount of victualling, but the sailors' spending 'in- the aggregate % was not great. . ; Exceptions toi" this.were ; found among caterers and ; places lof entertainment. The bluejackets were good to their friends. ;. And the , hotels also reaped a rich harvest. ~> ' .

The main ' increase :in ; the volume ,of trade was due, however, to •; the great \ influx of visitors. Enhanced receipts ; : were first: recorded in hotels : : • and boarding houses, and to furnish their tables the provision merchants were held in requisition. The restaurants were a3 favourably affected, and even more so by the ; large numbers ■of; day excursionists; This class records business at least equal to, and in some cases better, than, that at Easter. Among ; the shops a very large amount of casual trade was divided. The week opened well vup to Easter standards, then trade slackened a little, but again on Friday was exceptional. As for the more serious spending, . managers of; large stores are ; well satisfied. Both suburban dwellers and country people came into the city in large numbers. One department shop reports greatly increased receipts in all departments, although the increase in the tearooms was proportionally the greatest. The manager said less fleeting purchases were also common, a great deal of this business coming from the country. : "The: number of sales last;week was tremendous/' said a director of a large drapery firm, "but the weight of bullion behind them was -generally not so impressive. That is, there were a large numoer of purchases yi but for small amounts. Still, the fleet ; brought in new money from the country and that trade was fairly considerable. Friday night was exceptional and,: in fact, a record for any night except those at Christmas and New Year. The week was some compensation for Easter, although we could have done with both." ; :'. Sellers of sovenirs, bunting and photographic goods were also well pleased, while dressmakers report that prior to the fleet's coming the demand; for frocks, especially for evening ; wear, was : stimulated. ;„ , ■".;' '~,.-. ■;. •; .

. The tramways and railways have also to credit fleet week with greatly augmented; neturns. The tramways ;■ report heavy traffic all the week, which put considerable , strain on staff and rolling stock. The general manager, -~r. A. E. Ford, expresses gratification at the support he , received from all ; ranks in maintaining the ; : services the public demanded. Long hours j were ten ■required, but the staff responded /■;/ cheerfully. Saturday, May : -- 10, Tuesday and Friday were outstanding for ; numbers carried, although Sunday was unusually good ; and the other days all / well above ' the average r = Both the suburban ; and longer-distance passenger traffic' on the railways was heavy on every day in the week. "■*