THE CHRISTMAS TABLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20132, 18 December 1928, Page 13

THE CHRISTMAS TABLE.

KEEPING! ALIVE TRADITION.

BUSY DAYS FOR HOUSEWIVES.

VARIED CHOICE OF SUPPLIES. Valinntly endeavouring to preserve the old English tradition that Christmas Day, even though it falls in summer here, must bo an occasion of rich feasting, with turkeys and steaming plum puddings, Auckland housewives are now in tho throes of preparation for Christmas dinners.

Retailers of the varied articles which go to make up tho Christmas dinner all report oxcellent business. Supplies generally are much better this year tnan they wero last Christmas and an increaso in tho buying-power of the public has been appreciably evident. Auckland grocers have experienced ft busy time in meeting orders for the various fruits which go into Christmas cakes and puddings. Whero they have not sold the ingredients they have sold the articles ready-made. Numerous firms of bakers and confectioners prepare cakes and puddings, presumably for the legion of flatdwellers to whom balcing on a largo scale is not an easy matter. A large number of these has been retailed by Auckland grocers acid the demand has been much greater than was tho caso last year. However, no baker has been found who puts threepenny bits in puddings. Poultry ruay not be quite as expensive this season as it was last year. Large supplies are coming to hand at the City Markets and last Friday one firm held the biggest sale of poultry in its history. Turkeys, too, are much more plentiful this year. However, the demand has not yet reached its height. It is expected thero will bo ample potatoes, green peas and beans to meet the peak demand. The recent rains camo most opportunely and garden produco in plenty is reaching tho markets in readiness for tho Christmas rush.

There should bo an abundant supply of fresh fruit. The recent rain gave muchneeded stimulus to the strawberry crop and excellent supplies should bo available. The heavy Christmas demand will result in a slight increase in the prices, but it is expected the rates will be lower than they were last Christmas when, owing to the prolonged dry spell, the strawberry season was in lis closing days. There will also be good quantities of cherries, oranges and apples for the Christmas dessert and smaller supplies of apricots, peaches and plums will be on the market. For preserved fruits, confections and nuts there has already been a good demand and Auckland grocers say the assortment of lines this ytar is ! better than it has ever been.