AT A PRICE!

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27572, 14 December 1950, Page 8

AT A PRICE!

Festive Christmas For Britain

Resident Correspondent LONDON, Dec. 2. What sort of a Christmas will it be in Britain this year? Judging from my look around the shops, already glistening with festive tinsel and bounding with toy reindeer, it should be a particularly bright, gay and well-fed one. The only snags are the prices—at least three times pre-war.

In the vast and appetising food section of Harrod’s store in Knightsbridge the cursory visitor might well believe that “austerity” belongs to the limbo of forgotten things. Freely available and unrationed, I saw choice Italian hams (12s a lb), cold roast chickens (17s 6d each), tinned meat from a dozen countries, jars of pate de foie gras (33s a terrine for four), smoked salmon (12s 6d a lb), and'stacks of. canned lobsters (9s a 6oz tin). I could have bought a hamper containing a ham, a roast chicken, a chicken pie and a jar of pate for £5 ss, or I could have had one containing a dozen delicacies for 21s.

There were palate-tickling _ cheeses in profusion—Camembert, Danish Blue. Gorgonzola, Gruyere, Roquefort, Brie and English Stilton, and all off the ration—at prices ranging around 6s a lb. There were luscious-looking plum puddings for 4s 6d, mince pies (3s a lb), and iced fruit cakes at 3s 9d per lb. Here was ginger in a score of fancy jars (6s 9d to 65s each), mushrooms cooked in butter (6s 6d a 7oz jar), bags of almonds, and every other kind of nut from all over the world. One counter was devoted to crystallised fruits and flowers, hundreds and thousands, and cake decorations. In., the liquor section there were wicker-work demijohns containing a gallon of sherry for £4, bottles of champagne for 23s 6d, brandy for 37s 6d and Danish and Irish whisky at 32s to 365. Scotch at 34s is reserved for regular customers only. White wines cost 8s a bottle, Burgundy up to 16s Turkey at £4 So far so good, but what about the Christmas turkey? Alas, the prospects are grim and dear. At a nearby butcher’s shop the manager told me that they are much more scar de -and dearer than last year owing to disease and smaller supplies from abroad. He quoted me a 121 b bird for £4 which is roughly 50 per cent, dearer than last year when the price was controlled at 5s 3d a lb. No meat increase over the present ration of Is 7d worth a week has been announced and this butcher told me that supplies are at present so bad that he is expecting to see corned beef brought back soon. It is probable that the bacon ration of 3oz will be increased by an ounce or so to go with the already announced bonusus of 6oz of sweets, l£lb of sugar, 4oz of cooking fat, and 4oz of tea for elderly people. So far as I can see, those with plenty of money will be able to enjoy a really first-class dinner this Christmas, garnished with many luxuries and frills that perhaps you in New Zealand will not be able to buy. But where means are slender the fare will be plain, and so far as meat is concerned, meagre. Now for toys. At Hamleys, the largest and finest toy shop in the world, the sales manager told me that the toys this year are better than prewar in quality, if not in variety. British toys are now the best in the world, he considered, and were in keen demand even in America. He admitted, however, that prices were at least 10 per cent, dearer than last Christmas. The best value I noticed during my conducted tour of the five floors of this entrancing shop were the mechanical toys for boys. Cars and lorries are beautifully made, correct to tiny details, and are cheap at from 2s to 10s. A frightening Jabberwock at 4s lid and a spider at the same price, which walked on long legs, were selling fast nearby. Novelties in the higher price range included remote control racing cars worked from an electrical steering panel (£2-£5). an electrical selfsteering car that changes direction when it bumps into anything (265), a 10-wheeler lorry with powerful motor, which can be dismantled down to the last nut (56s 6d). and a realistic farm tractor towing a trailer, grass mower, harrows and disc (32s 6d). There was a wonderful selection of model planes at one counter, including several autogiro types at 30s to £2. Many of them were powered with efficient little Diesel motors costing from 48s to 755. A realistic anti-air-craft gun firing little pellets with a loud crack had quite captivated one nine-year-old. but my guide told me that the old-fashioned cap guns and cowboy outfits were even more popular. I was relieved to see that there was nothing that could be classed as “ atomic ” yet. Railway trains from 15s to £ls are in much better supply this year a* are steel construction sets, and fretwork tools for cabinetmaking. Beautiful Dolls There are some wonderful dolls about, but at what a price! One beautiful model which walks when led, nods its head, arid talks a few words, had a crowd of little girls quite spellbound. Cost, £5. The fastest seller wa s one at £2 whose announcement said: “I cry real tears, drink from my bottle, blow bubbles and wet my nappy.” I looked in vain for a worthwhile doll at less than 6s. . The biggest crowd in the shop was round the counter demonstrating puppet dolls. They are brightly dressed and can be operated on their strings by the most clumsy child. They ranged from 15s for a minstrel to £2 2s for “ Mcßoozle ” a Scotsman who drank from a large bottle. Nearby was the “novelty of the year,” a yellow Humpty Dumpty who recites three nursery rhymes when a little handle is turned. He cost only 7s lid. Another best seller was “Bendy Bunny” which has big ears and limbs that can be twisted into any shape. Cuddly toys for younger children were delightful, especially a squirrel at 25s and Brumas the bear and her mother (27s 6d).

In this issue,, the Railways Department advertises particulars of train arrangements for Christmas and New Year holidays.