CHRISTMAS EVE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 36, 29 December 1944, Page 5

CHRISTMAS EVE

LARGE CROWD IN TOWN

RECORD SHOPPING FIGURES

Christmas has been and gone'. In Whakatane the crowd in. town on Christmas) Eve was one of record proportions. From early evening, the town was thronged with shoppers who g;ave the Strand that bright animated appearance always associated with the' festive season. Tyre and petrol shortage apparently failed to deter the country dwellers,, for there was a continuous stream of traffic from far and near ( and' as in the past all available parking 1 space wasi utilised.

From interviews we learn that the season was a highly profitable one from a business point of view exceeding in most .cases even last year's record figures. Money was free, and in. spite of the 'priciness' of the average article offered for sale, due to war conditions and Dor--2 minion-jnade origin, there was no shortage of buyers. In fact as one shopkeeper remarked the average shopper discarded the cheaper utility lines and. seemed deliberately to seek out the dearer articles. This has been a steadily growing feature of war time shopping everywhere but it was more noticeable than ever this year. The crowded Strand on Friday last was largely composed of children who added greatly to the general hoisterousncss by the blowing of whistles, the bursting of balloons and generally in making lively the congested shop interiors. _ There was als-o in town a youthful element whose main objective appeared to be to get. what fun it was possible to get, from the occasion. That they succeeded well in creating the desired Christmas atmosphere was borne out by the shrieks of laughter which followed them down the Strand. Their antics never ceased to make a diversion for the crowd

who were out to be amused, >' and made the best of it accordingly. As all traffic was excluded from the Strand, roisterers had a l'ree hand and were* to lie seen in long snakelike formations wending their way in and out the crowd.

Shortly after 8 p.m. the Boys' Band smartly attired in their new uniforms marched bris!kly down to the monument at the head of a

dancing gang of youngsters. After one or two lively measures the band played a number of hymns and carols which drew for them' . 2 • the warmest applause from the large crowd of onlookers which had gathered there. The boys came in for the greatest praise. Several visitors from other towns commented on their excellence and offered their congratulations to the bandmaster. The Junior Pipe Band later made its appearance and led a large section up and down, the Strand. These lads also made a great impression with the crowd, who followed them wherever they went. For the first time, the young pipers hadi discards ed their Scout uniforms and wore instead their white shirts and glengarries. ;

The town was lively after the shops had though several es-> tablishments remained open until nearly midnight. However one. and all declared that for a war-time Christmas, the festivities and general merriment would be hard to beat anywhere. Not until tile we.e sma' hours did the last of the crowd

disband and even then one or two

solitary still sought to perpetrate the festive spirit by staging solo concerts in corners of the shopping area s or by sauntering along under the verandahs singing lustily or blowing whistles.

Thus Christmas 1944 concluded, with the good folk of Whakatane having made the. most of it } and retiring to their beds with the general thought 'I wonder what next Christmas will be like?'