PROVISION SHOPS RUSHED TO-DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18643, 24 December 1928, Page 9

PROVISION SHOPS RUSHED TO-DAY.

FINAL PURCHASES FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER

From the time they opened their doors this morning the provision shops in the city were rushed with customers making their final purchases for Christmas dinner.

As is to be expected the demand for poultry and lamb is particularly good; in fact, leading poulterers and butchers describe it as the best Christmas season in their experience. Money appears to be more plentiful than has been the case during the festive season in past years, and citizens have loosened the purse-strings right royally to-day. Some lines are dearer than they were last year, but the bulk of the provisions in keenest demand are slightly cheaper in price than at any Christmas for a good many years past. Consequently money is going farther and the public seem determined that this is going to be a right royal Christmas even if the weather gods are not in the happiest of moods. Butchers Busy. Lamb still holds pride of place for Christmas dinner, and to-day the butchers are going at top supplying orders and attending to customers. In one butchery establishment customers were lined two and three deep in front of the counter at ten o’clock, and, in addition to attending to their wants, the firm had a great lot of orders to get out. At the Addington market last Wednesday there were 3300 lambs sold, and fully 3000 went to the retail butchers. In addition there was a considerable amount of private buying from farmers during the week. Prices were good, best lambs making up to lid lb dressed weight. Poultry in Keen Demand. The demand for poultry has been particularly good, being much better than last year, but supplies also have been quite satisfactory. Prices generally are about the same as last year, the retail rates being as follows: Turkeys, from 15s each; goslings, from 5s 6d; ducks, from 6s; chickens, from 4s 6d; boiling fowls, from 2s 6d. Fish is in very little demand to-day, owing to the public preferring to have Something special for the Christmas season. The supply, however, is not large. Prices are as follows: Groper, 101 b in the piece and Is for cutlets; ling, 4d and 6d; kingfish, 9d; terakihi, 6d and lOd; gurnet, 6d and lOd; soles, lOd r flounders, Is. Fruit and Vegetables. There is an excellent demand for all classes of fruit and vegetables, but some lines, particularly cherries and strawberries, which usually find a very ready sale at Christmas, are scarce and dear. Peas, also, are fairly dear, the price to-day ranging from 2s a peck. The following are the retail prices of €fie principal lines:—Tomatoes Is 6d lb, lettuces 3d, 4d, 5d and 6d each; cabbages 6d each; cauliflowers (scarce) 8d and 9d each; spring carrots 3d a bunch; raspberries Is 6d punnet; apples, from 5d to 8d lb; oranges, from 4 to 10 Is; bananas, 6, 8 and 10 Is; lemons, 6 and 8 Is. Christmas Hams. Christmas hams are Id lb cheaper than they were last year, the price being Is 3d lb. There has been a large number sold, one grocer remarknig this morning that he had never previously had such a big number of orders td deal with. Prices for other grocery lines, also, are slightly lower than last year, and trade has been particularly brisk. Most of the Christmas baking has, of course, already been done by housewives, but there was a big sale today for all classes of dainties and extras for the Christmas table. The Christmas demand for eggs has been exceptionally keen during the past fortnight, but supplies have kept up, and there was no advance in prices. It is considered doubtful; however, whether the present rates will be maintained much longer, as the stocks in hand are very low and fresh supplies are falling off. There is, therefore, a possibility that prices will advance early in the new year, especially as there is now a big demand from Wellington to be met. The wholesale rates per dozen during the past week were Is 4d for first grade hen eggs and Is 2£d for second grade.