WINDOW “SPOTTING”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27568, 9 December 1950, Page 3

WINDOW “SPOTTING”

Business Men’s Campaign

BRIGHTER PRINCES STREET “Well, that one was certainly easy enough to pick.” remarked a man complacently, and he moved on to the next shop window. He was one of a few hundred citizens wh<3 for the past week have been testing their observation powers in the "window spotting” competition being held by the Princes Street South Business Men’s Association as part of a campaign to brighten up premises between Stafford street and Carroll street and to attract the interest of shoppers. The reaction of the window spotter already quoted, however, does not represent a true picture of the average person trying to pick some object in window which is not normally sold in the shop. For instance, there was the family group outside one of the shops the other night, and the junior member of the grojip—pre-school age —repeated over and over again: “ Look, Mummy, look at the so-and-so.” He was. hushed each time by his adult charges, who, in reproving tones, told the child they were concentrating. According to secret advice given to the Otago Daily Times, the child had picked the “spot” without any conscious effort. No doubt many similar stories could be told of window spotting exploits in search of the prizes offering. The Business Men’s Association in its campaign for a brighter Princes street south has adorned the pavements with Christmas trees and has illuminated the shop verandahs with coloured lighting. Some labour was involved in setting out | the trees in drums along the street, but evidently irresponsible citizens failed to appreciate the effort which had gone into the work. During the hours of darkness on Thursday night vandalsmulled many of the trees out of the drums, damaged many of the drums, and spilled sand over #he pavement. The police has assured the association that the area will be given close attention in future.