SOUTHLAND'S MAY FAIR WEEK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20708, 4 May 1929, Page 25

SOUTHLAND'S MAY FAIR WEEK.

POPULAR AND SUCCESSFUL' CARNIVAL. ; ; MESSRS H. & J., SMITH’S SPECIAL OFFERS. • The success of the May Fair Week thatis now conducted annually in Invercargill by the business community has been such, that every winter the promoters are moved to greater effort in an endeavour to eclipse all records. So widespread are the interests and activities of the carnival that it has now ceased to be a mere advertising extravaganza in which retailers seek to outdo eachi other. It ’has -become something in the nature of a provincial “ shop-window, ,J in. which commercial,, industrial, and primary resources are made the subject of novel and effective exhibitions, and every year the retailers of the town have something new to offer in the way of enticements to the purchasing public. Whispers from the capital centre of Southland indicate that the preparations for this season’s orgy of recreational advertisement will result in a saturnalia that has had no parallel in the’past. No doubt, . the primary objects of May Fair -Week are the education of the people and the advertising of the province, but.the recreational side of the effort is apparently considered to .be as important as the educational. In summarising the material and commercial growth of the community the_ business section accomplishes the additional end of amusing and entertaining the populace. Southland's , winter ■ carnival demonstrates as mudr as anything the success that is the birthright of a country endowed with rich material re* sources and inhabited by an intelligent, industrious, and honest people. The gaiety and display that, represent the spirit and progress of Southland must advance with the development ,of the province,, tmd for thaF reason each succeeding May, Fair carnival must outdo the preceding one in splendour and extravagance.' It cannot be denied that this annual fair 'gives stimulus to trade, and depicts in broad outlines the activities and pursuits of the community. The country meets the town ■on the common gronnds-of goodfellowship, and although individnual identities may be somewhat concealed beneath the strangely assorted disguises that are assumed for this hectic week'both sections of the community are brought into, close and intimate contact with the advances agricultural, industrial, and commercial that have been made during, the year. ' Therefore, 'since the boast is that"the carnival this, year,', which will be held from May 15 to 18,. will be bigger, brighter, and better than usual, it is not surprising to hear , that the most prominent commercial establishments of Invercargill are putting forward the most strenuous endeavours to surpass all past performances. One of the chief of these is the firm of Messrs H. ’ and J. Smith, Ltd,, the development and progress of which have been coincident with that of the province. Last year the displays made by this company were features of the effort, its endeavours in the: recreational ‘ field being no less marked' than its activities in respect to purely trade matters. This year the firm is holding the usualMay Fair sale,-and for the occasion the managment has issued a special catalogue filled with exceptional bargains in tbe entire range of the commodities which it purveys. Southlanders-need no introduction to the immense variety of the stocks held by this .firm, and Otago, householders are now familiar* with the tremendous mail order business carried oh by. the Invercargill branch of the company, which has been built up to, such excellent effect during the past 12 months. The May Fair, catalogue of Messrs and J. Smith, which by now will.be in the. hands of customers in every corner of the two provinces, is a most elaborate production, which covers every department of household necessity. -•' Millinery, ■. mercery, drapery, silks,- furnishings, manchester goods, hosiery, fancy goods, and practically every need of the wardrobe and the home are provided for in this publication, and it will require only the most cursory 'examination on the part of the experienced shopper to satisfy him or her that value is being offered at a Very , low cost. The employees and jeheral staff of thecomp'ahy, besides combining in particular advertising efforts, always take an important part' in the public functions and displays associated with the May Fair carnival, and this year will prove no exception to the rule. Last winter no fewer than 50,000 people were attracted to Invercargill by the May Fair festivities, the visitors coming from <pvery corner of Southland, as well as from .all parts of Otago, in which province the firm has only just commenced to push its large mail order business. During the past 12 months Messrs H._ and S. Smith have paid particular attention to this province with exceedingly encouraging results, and the consequence is that- a special offer is being made now through the May Fair catalogue. Those .who have not yet been through the vast emporium in Invercargill will realise that their eve 17 need can be supplied. by this. firm when they are told that its showroom and shop space amounts to over 80,000 square feet. If many other firms in Invercargill are putting forward the strenuous efforts that are being made by Messrs H. and J. Smith, Ltd., there can be Ho question that the 1929 May Fair carnival will eclipse all previous events by a very wide margin. Included in the firm’s special catalogue is a May Fair competition in connection with which the management offers no less than £2OO in cash prizes. The competition is one in which the discrimination' and sense of values possessed by. customers'will be called into p'ay. Competitors are asked to judge the worth of nine particular bargains .that are included in the catalogue. These nine items -arc to be considered on their merits as money-sav-ing purchases and placed in. the order of. preference.' The list that corresponds most nearly to the opinion of the judges will win the first prize. The, competition is .a. novel one, and eliminates all sugges-tion-of chance. Customers will-judge each item on its merits ns a cash bargain.

[Published by Arrangement.]