BUSY SHOPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23542, 30 December 1939, Page 8

BUSY SHOPS

CROWDS IN CITY NEW YEAR'S EVE TRADE SUPPLIES OVER HOLIDAY Large crowds thronged the city for New Year shopping throughout yesterday, but the streets soon cleared shortly after the shops closed at 9 p.m. Business was brisk, especially in the afternoon and evening, and compare favourably with that - transacted on New Year's Eve last year, but it was not as good as on a normal I 1 ri ay night. Country customers were the best buyers 011 Ibis occasion. In drapery stores a cheap range of articles was in general favour, but in tho departmental stores more expensive goods were in demand. There was still much inquiry for stock suitable lor gifts by persons whe bad missed their Christmas buying or purposely delayed it to avoid the main rush. Grocery stores, which fared, best or all in the short week's trado after Christmas, were again extremely busy. Fancy lines were not required this week, but the majority of buyers sought to fulfil large orders of supplies for the second long week-end ahead. Shops of all descriptions will be open again to-day until noon, when they will closo until Wednesday. Housewives who have not already prepared their orders have their last opportunity this morning to obtain sufficient supplies of bread and meat particularly, to carry them over until the shops reopen on Wednesday.