IMPROVEMENT AGAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20693, 31 December 1938, Page 6

IMPROVEMENT AGAIN

NEW YEAR’S EVE TRADE CAMPING GEAR IN DEMAND •Compared with the Christmas Eve shopping, New Year's Eve is relatively quiet, the public being more intent on festivities than in making purchases, but according to reports received today, trade in Hamilton last evening, following the Christmas precedent, showed an improvement over the corresponding day last year. Chain stores experienced the anticipated demand for festival novelties, and paper hats, streamers and confetti sold as fast as they could be handed over the counter. One chain store reported a record New Year's Eve for turnover and another advised that turnover this year showed an increase of approximately 20 per cent, on that for New Year’s Eve in 1937, while all business men interviewed appeared satisfied with the custom received. Grocers’ Busy Week With the restricted shopping week, of only 3J days, businesses dealing in foodstuffs have been doing a brisk trade with housewives laying in supplies for another long week-end. The manager of one leading grocery establishment said to-day that the week had been an unusually busy one, while New Year’s Eve itself had been better than last year. Necessity buying was, of course, responsible for most of the business done with his firm. Possibly as a result of the better weather of the past few days, there has been an increased demand for articles of camping and picnicking equipment, stated the manager of one chain store, these lines drawing most of last evening’s custom, outside the novelty counters. revellers in town CELEBRATIONS OPENED Whatever the personal worries of the year however menacing the international situation has been, and however uncertain the future might appear, the New Year week-end seems to be an antidote for gloom. In Hamilton last night thousands of people began to usher in the new year and bid farewell to the closing year. Celebrations, which this year were extended a little owing to the late shopping arrangements, were many. Animated scenes were seen In the streets when many people who were not shoppers joined in the fun traditionally associated with New Year's Eve. Tangible evidence of gaiety was seen this morning when street cleaner* were busy brushing piles uf confetti from the pavements. All alone the street, paper hats, confetti, tin whistles and carefree and happy laces testified to the prevailing spirits. To-night the old >ear will end and when the clocks chime midnight there win be many more revellers about the tOWB-