SHOPS IN FESTAL ARRAY: FASCINATING TOY DISPLAYS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 7, 16 December 1947, Page 4

SHOPS IN FESTAL ARRAY: FASCINATING TOY DISPLAYS

Shops in Whakatane have begun to take on a festive air and, despite the shadow infantile paralysis has cast over everything business is brisk, though it is noticeable that there are not the crowds of children in the streets that might be expected in school holidays and ly at this season of the year. Generally, spending seems fairly free. Toys in quantity and variety reminiscent of pre-war years make fascinating displays. English toys that have come back on the market in fairly large quantities include elaborate model railway systems, _ a variety of construction sets and lifelike sleeping dolls. The remarkable advance made by the toymaking industry in New Zealand and Australia is simply demonstrated by the wide variety of goodquality steel toys such as tractors, road machines and steam engines, as well as by dolls and plastic table sets, ships and novelties. Wooden toys, especially large, expensive ones, are not selling well in competition with the stronger models.

Dolls made in New Zealand under British patents are cheaper than imported dof. s. There is a wide variety of dolls, woolly bears and dogs Small boys who have never used glass marbles are likely to get some this Christmas, for they are back on the market for the first time since the war.

Well-known American toys, such as air rifles, are not available because of dollar saving, but some been replaced by Australian goods. There are no German toys, but it is understood some Japanese articles may be on the market shortly. The prices of all types, both New Zealand and imported, are considerably higher than before the war.