CHRISTMAS GIFTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24748, 23 November 1943, Page 2

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

SHOPPING COMMENCED I

SMALLER RANGE AVAILABLE With Christmas only about five weeks away, shopping for gifts has begun city stores, and the public is buying fairly steadily. For the fifth Christmas of the war, retailers are dependent en. tirely on New Zealand-made goods, and smaller stocks of articles suitable for presents are available. Novelty items usually associated with peacetime giving, are few and far between. One impression gained from an in. spection of the leading stores is the lack of variety, and very few retailers can offer many gifts which differ materially from those £>f their competitors. As overseas markets are completely cut off, shoppers will not expect either the - same quantity or variety. No one appreciates a Christmas stocking more than children, and they will be the last to be concerned about the limited field of choice. All the accoutrements of war in miniature are available for small boys, from wooden battleships and aircraft-carriers bristling with guns, through tanks, guns, trucks and ambulances, down to the übiquitous jeep. All types of aircraft are available. Some are exact replicas of machines whose names are household words, such as Spitfires and Lockheed Hudsons. Others could best be described as the results of inventors' dreams. For the more peace-loving boy there are toy fire engines, trains and animals. No better present could be given to ' a small girl than the ever-popular doll, and. although many of them ap. pear to have been fashioned on austerity patterns, the same amount of care and affection will be lavished upon them. Coloured story books appear to be in reasonably good supply. Christmas gifts for women are not so plentiful. Gloves, hosiery, lingerie and handkerchiefs were always a good standby, but coupons are now required for these, and many will be faced with the delicate decision whether to use these valuable coupons for gifts or save them for the purchase of utility articles for themselves. Most difficult to satisfy will be the needs of men. Here, again, the question of coupons looms largely. Cigars, cigarettes and pipes long have been favourite gifts, but here the choice is narrow