FESTIVE SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22608, 22 December 1936, Page 10

FESTIVE SEASON

THE CHRISTMAS DINNER

DEMAND FOR DELICACIES SHORTAGE OF SOME LINES Those who defer their shopping as long as possible may find this year that, some anticipated delicacies may bo missing from tho Christmas dinner table. This will bo due both to the heavier demand on account of increased prosperity and to various hinrkct influences.

Prime turkeys arc in short supply, and are realising high prices. Top price at tho city markets yesterday-was £1 15s, but these birds wcro. not in the best condition, and it was considered that really prime turkeys would realise over £2. Geese are, worth about twice as much as they were last Christmas, while prime young drakes and cockerels also are selling at greatly enhanced rates. It is anticipated that there will be sufficient poultry for Auckland's Christmas dinner, although the number of prime birds will be limited. Tho American shipping strike cut off supplies of raisins, and wholesalers' stocks of some lines arc bare, but fair stocks are on retailers' shelves. When tho shipping strike commenced many retailers placed heavy orders. Supplies of Jordan and Valencia almonds, which are very popular for table use, have been affected by the civil war in Spain. Stocks of dates are light, the pitted variety being practically unobtainable, but further supplies came to hand by the Waitaki yesterday.

Canned goods are selling extremely well, but so far there is no sign of any shortage in any packings except pears. There is also a heavy demand for all types of confectionery, but stocks are considered to bo adequate. Fruit generally will be plentiful for Christmas. Californian oranges anil Fijian bananas arrived by the Niagara yesterday, while a shipment of Japanese oranges will arrivo by the Chifuku Maru to-morrow. Strawberries will not bo so readily available as usual at this time of the year, but plums, peaches and other fruits are coming forward in increased quantities.

SHOPPING ARRANGEMENTS LATE NIGHT ON THURSDAY Housewives will have to plan their requirements carefully for the coming week-end, as after closing on Thursday. Christmas I've, shops will not reopen until the following Monday, a break of three days.

Most shops will be open until 10 o'clock on Thursday night, but some, such as pork butchers, will close at nine o'clock, as there is no provision for extended hours in some awards. On New Year's Evo the majority of shops will close at nine o'clock, as business on that night is not usually particularly heavy.