CROWDS IN CITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22611, 26 December 1936, Page 11

CROWDS IN CITY

CHRISTMAS EYE GAIETY

HUGE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC SHOPKEEPERS GRATIFIED REMARKABLE BUSINESS DONE Not even a persistent and uncomfortable drizzle could prevent Auckland from observing Christmas Eve in the proper and time-honoured fashion. Throughout the day, when there wore line intervals, and long into the night, when there did not seem to lie any breaks in the rain, the city's streets were packed with people. At times the throng was so great, the footpaths so wedged, and the roadways so busy that it was impossible to do more than move slowly with one of the two tightly packed lines that filled the footpaths nad overflowed in scurrying and dodging forms 011 to the street. Inside tho shops, until the very moment of their closing, the congestion was just as bad. Doorways were blocked, counters were ottcn lost from view, lifts were a goal difficult to reach and breathless to ride in, and everywhere the floorspace was thick with parcel-laden purchasers. Unanimous was the opinion of every kind of shopkeeper that the Christmas of 1936 was the most gratifying they had had since 1928.

Effect of the Rain The rain did not greatly diminish the good spirits of the ]>eo]ile, nor did the sizo of the crowds they had to handle affect the courtesy of those who had to serve them. If the streets were wet, the footpaths hard to negotiate, and the time to do what had to be done limited, the joyousness that was everywhere apparent did not seem to lessen. On the contrary the gaiety was infectious, and even the most weary of the shoppers and the most foot and arm-sore of the shop assistants performed their business with a lightheadedness that was the best passible token there could have been that the cares and cautions of the depression have been left behind.

The readiness to spend on luxuries was prodigious, and the sale of the more expensive articles of every description was the largest by far for at least eight years. As for the cheaper goods, as fast as counters and display stands were replenished they were laid bare again. Everywhere, in art shops, department stores, milliners, tobacconists, fruiterers, butchers' shops and grocery stores, jewellers, radio shops and restaurants, hotels and milk bars, fhe inquirer of perspiring but happy shopkeepers, managers, and assistants was met by a reply that meant trade had been wonderful. Shopkeepers' Estimate Until definite returns liad been made up it was generally impossible for actual figures to be obtained, but estimates of the improvement of business over last year varied from ]0 to as much as 25 per cent. Now and again, too, it was possible to corner one of those on the other side of the counter, the shopper himself, and ask him how his spending allowance compared with what he used on presents last year, and always it was found that people had spent amounts which they would have been frightened to contemplate two years ago. Christmas in Auckland this year probably meant a turnover of several million?. Christmas Eve meant more than several hours of shopping, however. The season demanded and the season got a celebration of gaiety that the weather, miserable as it was, could not hope to confine. Although it prevented many of the outdoor festivities which usually conclude such a night, the high spirits of the Christmas-minded people found the rain a poor reason for repressing their jollity, and every where small groups of them were to bo found in shop doorways, rambling along the streets, or inside houses, making sure that the holiday season should have a fitting prelude. Sometimes their balloons and festive caps may have been, bedraggled and their clothes and pareels wet, but their high spirits soared over such small discomforts and continued' unabated far into the night, long after the shops had closed, the trams had stopped running, and many of the city lights had gone out. Handling of Traffic To some extent the carnival spirit which usuallv makes itself apparent from about 10.30 o'clock at night was missing, but there was no lack of lightheartedness, which was manifest in a hundred different ways. In spite of the tremendous volume of the traffic in the city, however, the crowds were very orderly and the control of the vehicular traffic, especially the diverting of cars alon<; side streets from Customs Street to Wellesley Street, reduced the risk of accident to a minimum. The slippery pavements made footing uncertain, and there were several minor mishaps, while just after tho pictute theatres closed a woman attempting to hoard a tram at the Wellesley Street corner was very fortunate to escape being run over when she iell fulllength on the safety zone. Her screams caused momentary excitement among tin; large throng in tho vicinity, but this and other incidents did not detract from the joyousness that was general. Not only the shopkeepers, but also the sliup]>ers, must have gone home feeling that this Christmas Eve was one to lie remembered for a long time as a very definite indication that confidence has returned.

FAVOURITES FOR IMPORTANT EVENTS TO BE DECIDED AT THE AUCKLAND RACING CLUB'S SUMMER MEETING TO-DAY