The Pahiatua Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1933. SPENDING POWER.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12535, 29 December 1933, Page 4

The Pahiatua Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1933. SPENDING POWER.

The tota lisa tor may be regarded as an index of the spending power of a large section of the public. That being so, the Christmas race meetings in the Dominion would appear to indicate that money lor “th.i sjiort of Kings’’ at any rate, was more plentiful this week than has been the case for a considerable time past. The investments for the race meetings this week totalled £165,242, against £150,704 oil Boxing Day last year, an increase of nearly 10 per cent. There was only one meeting —Taranaki—at which there was a decline. It has been noticeable that during the slump betting generally has shown a. decrease, and it is assumed that the sporting community were in a more confident spirit this Christmas, when the turnover showed such a large increase. Doubtless if the weather is favourable;, the investments at the New Year meetings will also disclose a big improvement on last year’s figures. Whether it is returning confidence that has caused this extra speculation or an inspiration created by the recent sharp advance in the price of wool is not clear, but the fact remains that the figures show there was a great deal more freedom in investments. Another noticeable feature during the holidays was the greater number of people who travelled on the railways. In one instance, patrons of a certain race meeting increased tli reef old.