CHRISTMAS IN BRITAIN.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19459, 26 December 1934, Page 7

CHRISTMAS IN BRITAIN.

WEATHER PROSPECTB. INCREASED SPENDING POWER. United Press Assn. —Eiec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, Dec. 24. There are prospects of a mild and occasionally rainy Christmas Day. but nothing now will prevent the .festive ■season of 1934 being the most prosperous for the past five years. The last bout of shopping takes place today. Then there will be a rush for the raihvays, airways and motor coaches.

A big proportion of the holidays is likely to be spent away from home, 'Partly owing to the generous terms •offered to travellers in the shape of 'cheap excursions. Hundreds of extra porters have been engaged at the termini of the main lines.

In a 'Speech in the House of Commons the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Neville Chamberlain, referred to the increased spending power of tiie people. He called attention to the fact that the note 'Circulation had reached a new high record:, the latest returns showing a total note circulation of £401,990,743.

The stimulus of Christmas was mainly responsible for this high figure, hut the dotal was larger by £12,000,000 than a year ago and was an interesting 'Commentary on the trade improvement. This return was Britain’s best Christmas 'card- It is a record since the Bank of England’s and 'the Treasury’s issues were amalgamated. The bank sent out £30,000,000 extra for ■the Christmas trade, exceeding the 1933 demand by £6,000,000.