CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 28 December 1926, Page 6

CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES

(Per Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, December 25. Christmas Day will be remembered in many Louden homes as a cold, damp, and cheerless one. because of their coal-leSs plight. In some cases it was worse than during the strike. A strange spectacle was witnessed in some districts of merchants doling out a small day’s supplies to queues. Innumerable housewives faced the problem of forcing a large turkey into a small gas oven, and cooking with gas, the pressure of which was greatly weakened, owing to the general resort to this method of preparing dinner. Many poor folk gathered round oil stoves. There was an unprecedented demand for rabbits in the districts affected by the strike. In spite of difficulties, however, everybody was wonderfull}' cheerful. Money had been circulated witu seemingly usual freedom. There was a general feeling cf thankfulness that the year was ending with a hope of better times in 1927. “Historians may regard 1926 as a landmark,” remarks “The Observer." “It has been full of vicissitudes and contrasts at home and abroad. “There is a large increase in new shipping tonnage under construction, and on order. It is the surest promise of more thriving times in 1927, while throughout the country there is an earnest discussion of the means of improving the relations between Labour and Capital.” Mr Frank Hodges predicts that with hard work the coal trade can be regained. Mr'J. T. Brownlie',, in his annual report, speaks optimistically of the .prospects of the engineering industry. Members of the Nottinghamshire minors’ new non-nolitieal union were plo’isnn y stirp- J hy the receipt of a grant of £lO,OOO from the eoal owners, from winch they paid 10s each to aged miners at Christmastida. Thousands of British families were unable, in the words of the wartime song, to “Keep the Home Fires Burning ’ this Christmas, Because, strangely enough,.coal is seamer than at some periods during the six months’ strike. Merchants blame thy railway companies, and the latter blame the merchants. The fact remains that the railway lines are blocked with coal-laden

trucks, yet householders are unable to obtain coal. LONDON, December 24. The King’s coal has arrived at Windsor, and was distributed among 800 poor inhabitants, all over the ago of sixty. PARIS, December 25. Paris spent Christmas eve in the traditional manner, supping in cabarets, but the spirit of gaiety was distinctly more subdued than during the past, few years. Currency troubles and the extreme cold were held responsible for the diminution of celebrations. The managers of shops and stores agree that a wave of economy has swept over France. Messages from Brussels also report that Christmas is quiet in Belgium, as the people have no money. NEW YORK, Dec. 25. With trade agencies in New York and other large cities reporting i Christmas purchasing of the greatest ! volume in the history of the coun- | try, the United States celebrated : Yuletide on a lavish scale. The large industrial corporations declared special dividends, totalling more than 500,000,000 dollars, while the bonuses distributed in the financial district of New York, by and the large business organisations . throughout the country are expected to aggregate over 200,000,000 dollars. Charity distributions were unprecedented, the “New York Times” alone raising 250,000 dollars, while the country total is estimated at 500,000,000 dollars. The festivities in the large, cities are reported to have assumed unprecedented heights. Night life was given free reign. This Christmas has been dubbed "Prosperity Christmas.” SYDNEY, December 27. The city is crowded with Christmas visitors. Trade is generally reported good and money plentiful, despite the high prices and the political unrest. The scarcity of green vegetables is a feature. Many householders had to forego them.